No one anticipated that Venom would grow into a major movie franchise, but after two films and box office success, Eddie Brock’s journey with the Venom symbiote is far from over. With Venom: The Last Dance, the Lethal Protector’s story reaches a significant turning point.
Following the chaotic events of Venom: Let There Be Carnage and a quick detour into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Eddie Brock (played by Tom Hardy) and his symbiotic partner are once again forced into a life on the run. But this time, they face greater challenges than ever before.
Not only are the local authorities hot on their trail, but a much larger threat looms on the horizon: Knull, the God of the Symbiotes, is seeking to escape from his prison, and Eddie holds the key.
Knull’s arrival brings chaos and destruction as the symbiote god is on a relentless mission to free himself, with Eddie Brock caught in the middle. As Eddie grapples with the responsibility of having the key that can free Knull, a mysterious government agency is also determined to recapture the symbiote.
With a story packed full of twists, betrayals, and explosive action, Venom: The Last Dance offers a thrilling conclusion to the trilogy. But is it really the end for Eddie and Venom? That’s the question audiences will be asking throughout the film, as the trailers have hinted that one or both characters may not survive this final chapter.
As Venom: The Last Dance draws to a close, the fate of Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote is revealed, along with answers to the burning questions that have kept fans speculating for years. Here’s a closer look at how the final movie ties up the loose ends, introduces new symbiotic threats, and leaves the door open for future possibilities in the ever-growing Venom saga.
The Key to Knull’s Freedom Lies Within Eddie
At the heart of Venom: The Last Dance is Eddie Brock’s realization that he possesses a “codex,” a piece of symbiote matter within his body that has the potential to free Knull from his prison.
The codex is essentially a piece of genetic information from the symbiote, and it can only be formed when a symbiote revives its host from near-death.
This happened in the first Venom movie when Venom saved Eddie after he was mortally wounded by Riot (played by Riz Ahmed). Now, Eddie has become the key to Knull’s release, and this revelation drives much of the conflict in The Last Dance.
With the codex embedded in Eddie’s body, Knull sends a group of specialized symbiote hunters known as xenophages to track him down.
These symbiote hunters have the unique ability to locate Eddie whenever he fully merges with Venom, which forces Eddie to remain in hiding and avoid using Venom’s powers unless absolutely necessary. The stakes are incredibly high, as Knull’s freedom could mean devastation for Earth and the entire universe.
Yet, Knull isn’t the only one chasing Eddie. A covert government agency has been monitoring the symbiotes ever since they arrived on Earth, and they, too, have set their sights on Eddie.
This agency, led by General Rex Strickland (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), operates out of Area 51, and they are determined to prevent the symbiote threat from escalating. General Strickland is a no-nonsense leader who believes that the symbiotes represent an existential threat to humanity, and he will stop at nothing to eliminate them.
Strickland’s agency has already captured Patrick Mulligan (played by Stephen Graham), a character who was presumed dead at the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. In an attempt to revive Mulligan, Dr. Teddy Payne (played by Juno Temple) injects him with the Toxin symbiote, another dangerous alien lifeform with its own agenda.
The Toxin symbiote forms a connection with Mulligan and warns Payne and Strickland that if Eddie or Venom are killed, the codex within Eddie’s body will be lost, and Knull will remain imprisoned forever. This forces Strickland to reconsider his approach and focus on capturing Eddie alive, though he remains ready to use lethal force if necessary.
The Ultimate Showdown: Venom Gains Symbiote Allies
As Eddie and Venom attempt to outrun both Knull’s xenophages and Strickland’s forces, they eventually find themselves cornered. Strickland’s agency successfully captures both Eddie and Venom, bringing them to a secret military base where they plan to extract the codex from Eddie’s body.
However, things quickly spiral out of control when Venom sacrifices himself to save Eddie from being executed by Strickland. This act of selflessness leaves Eddie devastated, but it also has unintended consequences.
Venom’s heroic act attracts the attention of the xenophages, who descend upon the military base, threatening to destroy everything in their path. In a desperate attempt to fight back, Toxin releases several other symbiotes that were being held in captivity, allowing them to bond with the base’s personnel.
These newly-bonded symbiotes join forces with Venom and Eddie, creating an army of symbiote-enhanced soldiers who are ready to take on the xenophages.
One of the most surprising developments in this battle is Dr. Payne’s transformation. After years of working in the shadows, she bonds with a symbiote known as Agony, which grants her incredible speed and agility. Payne uses her new powers to save one of her coworkers, finding personal closure from the trauma of her past.
Years earlier, she had been struck by lightning, which killed her brother and left her partially paralyzed. Agony’s abilities not only allow her to overcome her physical limitations but also give her the chance to redeem herself and face her fears.
Despite their newfound allies, the xenophages prove to be an overwhelming force. They are relentless in their pursuit of Eddie and the codex, and it soon becomes clear that drastic measures will be needed to stop them. In a heartbreaking moment, the Venom symbiote makes the ultimate sacrifice.
It detaches from Eddie’s body and draws the xenophages together before unleashing a flood of corrosive acid upon itself, effectively destroying both the symbiote and its enemies in the process.
General Strickland also meets a tragic end during this battle. In a last-ditch effort to protect humanity, Strickland pulls the pin on a grenade and sacrifices himself, blowing up a significant portion of the base. His death is a poignant reminder of the high cost of the symbiote war, but it also signals the end of the immediate threat.
The Aftermath: Eddie’s New Path
With the xenophages defeated and the symbiote threat seemingly neutralized, Eddie Brock is finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. In the aftermath of the battle, Eddie is cleared of all charges, and the government acknowledges his role in preventing Knull’s release.
Free from the constant pursuit of law enforcement and alien hunters, Eddie decides to continue his journey to New York, where he and Venom had originally planned to go before being sidetracked by the xenophage invasion.
One of the most emotional moments in Venom: The Last Dance occurs in its final minutes, as Eddie visits the Statue of Liberty.
This was a location that Venom had expressed a desire to see, and Eddie stands at the foot of the iconic landmark, reflecting on his partnership with the symbiote. “I won’t forget you, buddy,” Eddie says, paying tribute to the creature that had been both his greatest ally and closest friend.
Although Venom is gone, the bond between Eddie and the symbiote lives on in Eddie’s memory. The closing moments of the film suggest that Eddie’s story is far from over, and that the lessons he learned from his time with Venom will shape his future.
Is This Really the End of Venom?
While Venom: The Last Dance serves as a conclusion to Eddie and Venom’s story, it also hints that the symbiote saga is far from over. One of the most intriguing moments in the film occurs during a mid-credits scene, which teases the return of Knull. The scene shows Knull reappearing, locking eyes with the audience, and delivering a chilling warning: “The King in Black is coming, and your world will burn.”
This ominous statement serves as a promise that Knull’s story is far from finished. While The Last Dance introduces Knull as the primary antagonist, it only scratches the surface of his full potential. Kelly Marcel, the film’s writer and director, has hinted that Knull will play a major role in future Venom projects.
“The King in Black is way too powerful for just one film,” Marcel explained in an interview with IGN. “This movie is just the beginning of Knull’s story. Marvel’s greatest villains are often developed over time, and Knull is no exception.”
Marcel’s comments suggest that Knull will continue to be a central figure in the future of the Venom franchise. His return could set the stage for new conflicts and challenges, not only for Eddie Brock but also for other characters in the Marvel universe.
Venom’s Survival in Other Universes
Another key detail that fans should not overlook is the fact that the Venom symbiote is still alive — at least in another universe. During the mid-credits scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Eddie Brock is briefly teleported into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Although he is eventually sent back to his own universe, a small piece of the Venom symbiote is left behind. This opens up exciting possibilities for the future of both Venom and Spider-Man.
If Tom Holland reprises his role as Spider-Man in upcoming films like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, there’s a good chance that Peter Parker could gain a symbiote suit.
In fact, the original Secret Wars comic series is where Spider-Man first encountered the black symbiote suit, which later became Venom. This storyline could serve as the foundation for a future crossover event, bringing Eddie Brock, Venom, and Spider-Man together on the big screen.
Tom Hardy has also expressed interest in reprising his role as Eddie Brock in a future Spider-Man film. During a panel at New York Comic Con, Hardy stated that he would love to see Venom face off against Spider-Man in a future project. “It’s something we’ve been talking about for a while,” Hardy explained. “There’s definitely a lot of potential for that matchup, and I think fans would love to see it.”
The Future of Symbiotes: Agony and Beyond
In addition to Venom and Knull, there are still other symbiotes in the mix. Dr. Payne’s bond with the Agony symbiote raises the possibility of future symbiote-related storylines. In the Marvel Comics, Agony is one of five symbiotes created from Venom’s body during the Venom: Lethal Protector series.
Along with Agony, there are other symbiotes such as Phage, Riot, Scream, and Lasher. These symbiotes have appeared in various comic book storylines, video games, and other media, and their presence could be shown further in future films.
With Dr. Payne now in possession of the Agony symbiote, there is potential for her character to play a larger role in the Venom franchise moving forward. Agony’s unique abilities could make her a valuable ally or a dangerous enemy, depending on how her storyline unfolds.
Additionally, the concept of the Life Symbiotes — symbiotes created by the Life Foundation — opens up new possibilities for future conflicts. The survival of Agony suggests that the symbiote threat is far from over, and that new symbiotes could emerge to challenge Eddie and other characters in future installments.
Conclusion: A New Era for Venom?
Venom: The Last Dance marks the end of an era for Eddie Brock and his symbiotic partner, but it also paves the way for new beginnings. With Knull’s return, the survival of symbiotes in other universes, and the introduction of new characters like Agony, the Venom franchise is poised for exciting developments in the future.
While fans may be saying goodbye to Venom (for now), the symbiote’s legacy lives on. As comic book-based franchises continue to evolve, death is rarely the end, and there’s always the possibility that Venom could return in some form. Whether through crossovers with Spider-Man, battles against Knull, or the rise of new symbiotes, the future of the Venom saga remains bright.
