Andy Serkis is best known for his motion-capture acting– Golem in the ‘Lord of the Rings’/’Hobbit’ saga, Caesar in the ‘Planet of the Apes’ films– but he also appears in the flesh, such as when he played Ulysses Klaue in ‘Black Panther’, or in his most recent role as Parker Wembley in the comedy ‘Long Shot’. But he has begun moving into directing, starting with the 2017 romance starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. Most recently, he helmed the live-action/motion-capture hybrid ‘Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle’, available on Netflix. He may be taking on a much more high-profile project– Sony’s ‘Venom’ sequel.
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Serkis flew to Los Angeles to meet with Sony brass to discuss taking on the project, although at this point it sounds as though he is just one possible option. Sony hopes to have cameras rolling by November. The script, by Kelly Marcel, is reportedly complete.
Ruben Fleischer directed the first ‘Venom’, but it was reported that the production was embattled, with Fleischer clashing with star Tom Hardy at times. So it was no surprise when it was announced that he would not return for the sequel.
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Tom Hardy starred as Eddie Brock, a hapless journalist who becomes bonded to an alien symbiote to become the blood-thirsty Venom. Michelle Williams co-starred as his ex-fiancée, Anne Weying, with Riz Ahmed as the villain Carlton Drake a.k.a. Riot.
‘Venom’ was something of a surprise hit when it opened last year. Though the character Venom is one of Spider-Man’s enemies, due to the fact that Spider-Man is currently shared between Sony and Disney, the ‘Venom’ movie had to exist in its own world, devoid of Spider-Man. Even without an appearance by Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker, ‘Venom’ went on to make $856 million worldwide.
The first movie introduced Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady, who in the comics is a serial killer who merges with his own symbiote to become Carnage. It is believed that he will be the chief antagonist in the sequel.
What do you think of Andy Serkis possibly directing ‘Venom 2’?
