3 Minutes
A new chapter for Eddie Brock?
As Tom Hardy's run as Venom appears to be winding down after 2024's Venom: The Last Dance, fans and creators are already looking ahead. David Michelinie, one of the co-creators of Venom, recently voiced his support for an unexpected successor: actor Alan Ritchson, best known for his turn in the Reacher series. The endorsement came during an exchange prompted by a fan and voice actor on X, who asked Michelinie whether Ritchson would be a good Eddie Brock — and Michelinie confirmed he'd thought so before.
Why Alan Ritchson?
Ritchson brings a tall, imposing physicality and a surprising sensitivity to roles, which helped shape the macho-but-layered Jack Reacher on Amazon. Michelinie noted he'd once shared photos of Ritchson — including a shirtless shot and another mid-scream — to illustrate how the actor could embody Eddie's volatility and Venom's feral presence. That blend of menace and vulnerability is crucial: Eddie Brock is not just a hulking host, he’s a complex antihero whose moral grayness fuels the story.
How this compares to previous portrayals
Topher Grace’s Eddie in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 leaned into awkward, comic-book-y charm, while Tom Hardy turned Eddie into something rawer and emotionally jagged across the standalone Venom films. Ritchson could sit somewhere between those approaches — physically authoritative like Hardy in fight scenes, but perhaps closer to Reacher's stoic restraint when it comes to quieter moments.
Industry context and fan reaction
Recasting a major comic-book figure isn’t unusual — studios often pivot when franchises reset or join wider cinematic universes. Rumors that Venom could weave into future Spider-Man projects at Marvel Studios have kept speculation alive, especially after Hardy expressed interest in sharing the screen with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Fans on social platforms offered mixed reactions to the Ritchson idea: many praised his look and screen presence, while others cautioned that Eddie is as much about vocal performance and internal conflict as physicality.
Trivia: Michelinie co-created iconic symbiote characters including Carnage, and his blessing carries weight among comic fans. Ritchson’s résumé also includes roles in Titans and Blue Mountain State, showing range from superhero material to gritty comedy.
Whether Sony, Marvel, or both decide to recast, the next Eddie Brock will need to navigate studio politics, potential MCU crossovers, and audience expectations. For now, Michelinie’s nod keeps Ritchson firmly in the conversation — and reminds us that the Venom legacy is still evolving.
Short note: whichever actor takes the mantle, the best choices will honor both the monstrous spectacle and the human mess at Eddie Brock’s core.
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