Treatment Fit for a King

Venom: The Last Dance Debuts Knull, Fans and Creators React

By August Tales

Just a few days ago, the curtain lifted on the first trailer for “Venom: The Last Dance”. What left fans reeling was the undeclared arrival of Knull, the King in Black. Given the mixed track record Sony has with Marvel characters and the lukewarm response to most SSU films, fans voiced their doubts about Knull’s debut.

Creators Respond to Character’s Usage

Peculiarly, Knull’s creators – Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman – were just as surprised by the reveal. The pair took to social media to convey their astonishment at Sony’s unanticipated use of their character. Compensation, Stegman suggested, was due. Cates, on the other hand, posted an inverted Venom logo that humorously read “money.”

The reason for the fans’ skepticism, apart from Sony’s uneven handling of Marvel characters, was the lack of substantial narrative build-up for Knull. Additionally, the absence of a deserving rival for the villain raised eyebrows. Some also found it disconcerting that Sony opted to bring Knull to life without consulting his original creators.

Their fears were not unfounded. Despite commercial success, the previous two Venom movies, in general, did not rake in rave reviews.

Creators Sooth Fans’ Concerns

However, things took an intriguing turn when Cates revealed that he had engaged with Sony and had previewed the script for the impending movie a day after his “money” post. According to him, the movie promised to outdo fans’ expectations, and he seemed content with Knull’s portrayal.

Recently, he celebrated his 40th birthday with a tweet, expressing excitement that a character he helped create would feature alongside one created by Todd McFarlane. A subsequent tweet by him also suggested that “Venom: The Last Dance” is grander and more ambitious than anyone can fathom.

Fan Response: Mixed Emotions

While fans reacted to the news with a combination of anticipation and humor, others remained undecided about the film. One user doubted the capability of the film being appreciably good. Another pointed out Tom Hardy’s influence over the screenplays of all three films and the lead writer of the previous films directing “Venom: The Last Dance”. They suggested a wait-and-see attitude.

Fans also expressed curiosity about whether Sony ended up compensating Cates. This uncertainty melted away into excitement for some as they became more thrilled to watch “Venom: The Last Dance”, especially given Cates’ description of it as bigger and more ambitious.