Eddie Brock confronts Dr. Carlton Drake in a first clip from Venom

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Sony Pictures has dropped the first clip from VENOM which finds Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) confronting Life Foundation CEO Dr. Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) over alleged reports that his organization is conducting human experimentation. Needless to say, Eddie's bumbling attempt to press Dr. Drake for information leads to the abrupt termination of the interview. I can't say that it's the best first clip for Sony to release, especially as there are still many fans who haven't exactly been won over by the film, but what can you do?

Although fans were holding out hope that VENOM would be entering the realm of R-rated comic-book movies such as DEADPOOL and LOGAN, it was revealed last week that the film had officially received a PG-13 rating. Although the theatrical film will have to pull its punches somewhat, VENOM director Ruben Fleischer has said that it's possible that the home-media release could be unrated. "I wouldn’t rule anything out. We’ll have to see where it lands, I guess, but I wouldn’t rule anything out," Fleischer said. The director also discussed what sets VENOM apart from its comic-book brethren.

When I set out to make the movie, I wanted to distinguish the film tonally, and I wanted to make a darker, grittier, kind of edgier comic book movie that also has a strong horror element, which is inherent to the character and the comic. Those were the aspects: darker, edgier, grittier. I think Tom Hardy embodies all of those qualities. The combination of Tom, Venom the character, and then the look of the film, which we really tried to make look, like I just said, edgy and gritty and dark and grounded of this world.

VENOM will star Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a journalist desperate to get his career back on track after a recent scandal. While investigating the Life Foundation and its mysterious leader, Dr. Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), Brock is exposed to an alien symbiote which bonds with him and gives him extraordinary powers. VENOM will hit theaters on October 5, 2018.