Artnewspress :
Sony Pictures has again delayed the theatrical release of “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.” The superhero sequel — starring Tom Hardy — will now debut on the big screen on Sept. 17.
The “Venom” sequel has been postponed several times during the pandemic and was most recently set for June 25. Despite the reopening of movie theaters in Los Angeles and New York City, it’s not entirely unexpected that “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” was moved back. Universal had recently shifted its “Fast and Furious” sequel “F9” to late June, so the two tentpoles would have opened on the same weekend and competed for attention from younger male moviegoers. Since the box office has been slow to recover, at least in North America, the commercial prospects for one potential blockbuster, let alone two in one weekend, by summer are uncertain.
With its mid-September release date, the “Venom” sequel has space between “The Suicide Squad” on Aug. 6 and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” remake on Oct. 1. On Sept. 17, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” will premiere alongside the star-studded murder mystery “Death on the Nile” and Universal’s animated kids movie “The Boss Baby: Family Business.”
Along with the delay of “Venom,” Sony has pulled “Man From Toronto,” an action comedy with Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, from the release calendar. It was originally slated for Sept. 17.
Andy Serkis is directing the follow-up to “Venom,” which sees Hardy reprise his role as the titular alien symbiote. The original 2018 film became a surprise box office hit, earning $855 million globally. Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Reid Scott and Naomie Harris will also appear in the sequel.
