Venom May Have Found A Director

Published on October 8, 2009 by Craig Sharp · View Comments

venom-cropped Columbia Pictures are in talks with a director for their Spider-Man spinoff film, Venom.

According to Variety, Gary Ross, who is currently working on the rewrite of Spider-Man 4 for Columbia, is set to join the Venom camp to direct and provide a rewrite of the latest script treatment, thought to be that of “Zombieland” screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Marvel Entertainment, Avi Arad and Ross are set to produce the film.

The film is likely to continue on from the dismal Spider-Man 3 in which the alien symbiote, Venom, bonded with Daily Bugle photographer, Eddie Brock (Topher Grace). However Grace, who has just signed on to star in “Robert Rodriguez’s Predators” is unlikely to return to the role.

Studios have been fervently working to protect their comicbook properties since the $4 billion acquisition of Marvel Entertainment by Disney was announced in August. Provided their properties are in active production they’re safe but should a studio drop the ball and let their characters gather dust, right will revert to creators Marvel and thus The House of Mouse.

Venom is expected for release in 2011.