{"id":2146799,"date":"2025-11-10T16:08:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2146799"},"modified":"2025-11-10T16:08:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:08:10","slug":"venoms-director-weighs-in-on-why-the-films-succeeded-while-sonys-other-spider-man-spinoffs-flopped","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/venoms-director-weighs-in-on-why-the-films-succeeded-while-sonys-other-spider-man-spinoffs-flopped\/","title":{"rendered":"Venom\u2019s Director Weighs In On Why The Films Succeeded While Sony\u2019s Other Spider-Man Spinoffs Flopped"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sony\u2019s ongoing attempt to build a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/5-reasons-why-honestly-hope-011020987.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Spider-Man cinematic universe;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Spider-Man cinematic universe<\/a> without, well, Spider-Man has produced some bumpy results. While <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/sony-boss-defends-spider-verse-203439900.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Morbius, Kraven, and Madame Web bombed at the box office;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\"><em>Morbius, Kraven<\/em>, and <em>Madame Web<\/em> bombed at the box office<\/a>, <em>Venom<\/em> defied the odds in 2018, earning over $850 million at the box office and spawning two sequels. So what made it click? Well, <em>Venom\u2019s<\/em> director weighs in on why the films succeeded while the other Sony Spidey efforts fizzled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to director Ruben Fleischer, who helmed the original film, the key wasn\u2019t just Tom Hardy or symbiote spectacle, but was humor and heart. During a recent appearance on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theplaylist.net\/ruben-fleischer-said-venom-couldnt-feature-spider-man-thus-faced-challenges-we-were-all-trying-to-figure-out-what-that-wanted-to-be-20251107\/?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Playlist\u2019s Discourse Podcast;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The Playlist\u2019s Discourse Podcast<\/a>, the <em>Uncharted<\/em> helmer opened up about the unique challenges of launching Sony\u2019s Spider-Man-adjacent franchise and how they leaned into the weirdness. He shared:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"mb-4 border-l-2 pl-5 italic text-tertiary\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I can\u2019t really speak to too much because I haven\u2019t seen all the other ones. But I think something that people love about Venom is that he\u2019s funny. You know what I mean? It doesn\u2019t take itself too seriously. It\u2019s kind of a ridiculous premise that you have an alien living inside you and sharing space with you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Rather than try to overly ground the concept, Fleischer embraced its absurdity. He said the tone drew inspiration from films like <em>All of Me,<\/em> starring Steve Martin, and <em>An American Werewolf in London, <\/em>both movies that mixed the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/best-horror-comedy-movies-watch-150000772.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:supernatural with a strong dose of humor.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">supernatural with a strong dose of humor.<\/a> That same tonal balance carried over into <em>Venom<\/em>. He continued:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"mb-4 border-l-2 pl-5 italic text-tertiary\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I kind of leaned into the\u2014I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s really body horror\u2014but All of Me with Steve Martin was a big inspiration. An American Werewolf in London was another one. Both are tonally on the more humorous side of things. I think Venom is darker among the superhero franchises, just in terms of the way the character looks and his attitude. But he\u2019s also really, really funny. So Tom Hardy was able to realize that wonderfully. And I think the charisma of Tom and of Venom himself is largely what has made it so popular among audiences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Developing <em>Venom<\/em> without Spider-Man, arguably the character\u2019s entire narrative backbone, posed a major creative challenge. Since the film was the first in Sony\u2019s Spider-Man-less universe, the team had to build a standalone mythology from scratch. According to Fleischer, the absence of Spider-Man wasn\u2019t a last-minute change; it was part of the concept from the very beginning. While a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/streamed-venom-3-fake-connections-210617600.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:crossover was never ruled out entirely,;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">crossover was never ruled out entirely,<\/a> the filmmakers were tasked from day one with creating a version of <em>Venom<\/em> that could exist entirely on its own.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Venom at the end of the first movie\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Bnro55NF6cQKShR5ZgmZ4w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/e4fa371863aa98cfd0ae7cebdcdf69e5\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Sony<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Spider-Man restrictions even influenced Venom\u2019s physical design. Without a direct connection to the webslinger, the filmmakers had to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/superheroes\/superhero-movie-costume-designs-that-improve-on-the-comics\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:scrap the character\u2019s iconic spider chest emblem;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">scrap the character\u2019s iconic spider chest emblem <\/a>and invent a new visual identity that made sense within their standalone story. The <em>Zombieland<\/em> director sees the creative limitations as a blessing in disguise. In his view, the film\u2019s success\u2014both critically and commercially\u2014proved that <em>Venom<\/em> didn\u2019t need Spider-Man to work. It found its own voice, blending humor, horror, and Hardy\u2019s charisma to launch an unlikely franchise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Though Ruben Fleischer only helmed the first installment in the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/venom-comic-co-creator-reveals-005824640.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Venom trilogy;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\"><em>Venom<\/em> trilogy<\/a>, his direction laid the groundwork for what made the franchise click. You can revisit his original film now with a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/tech.yahoo.com\/streaming\/articles\/best-disney-9-tips-most-172112198.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Disney+ subscription;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Disney+ subscription<\/a>. As for what\u2019s next, Fleischer&#8217;s <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/upcoming-movies-2025-movie-release-130453990.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:2025 movie release;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">2025 movie release<\/a>, <em>Now You See Me: Now You Don\u2019t<\/em>, hits theaters on November 14.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios Sony\u2019s ongoing attempt to build a Spider-Man cinematic universe without, well, Spider-Man has produced some bumpy results. While Morbius, Kraven, and Madame Web bombed at the box office, Venom defied the odds in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2146800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[315758,367781,314133,306140,305346,349372,349561],"class_list":["post-2146799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-marvel-studios","tag-ruben-fleischer","tag-sony-pictures","tag-spider-man","tag-steve-martin","tag-tom-hardy","tag-venom"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Venoms-Director-Weighs-In-On-Why-The-Films-Succeeded-While.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2146799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2146799"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2146799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2146801,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2146799\/revisions\/2146801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2146800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2146799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2146799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2146799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}