'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Will Now Be Released Earlier Than Expected

After committing to a mid-October premiere date for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Sony Pictures has brought forward the release of the film by two weeks.

Variety reports that the comic book adaptation, which stars Tom Hardy in the leading role, will now debut in theaters on Oct. 1. The film was initially supposed to come out in October 2020, but had a lengthy delay on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Andy Serkis-directed sequel debuted its second trailer last month, at which point it was rumored Let There Be Carnage could slip to 2022.

Sources close to Sony Pictures also previously said there was discussion the Venom sequel could move to the Thanksgiving weekend spot, citing the delay of Paramount Pictures’ remaining 2021 slate to 2022. Instead, Sony pushed Ghostbusters: Afterlife to Nov. 19 from its original Nov. 11 release date.

The news of Venom arriving sooner comes not long after it was reported that Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings debuted with the second biggest opening during the pandemic, trailing just behind Black Widow. Bringing in an impressive $71.4 million domestically in its opening weekend, Shang-Chi has signified that audiences will still go to the theater if it’s for the right film.

Candyman has also proved to be a pandemic success story, grossing over $50 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. The R-rated horror film, helmed by Nia DaCosta, also marks the first time a film directed by a Black woman debuted at No. 1 in the United States.