While Venom: The Last Dance is the last film in the Venom trilogy, Avengers: Secret Wars could bring back Venom and Knull without Tom Hardy, according to an MCU theory. Hardy's portrayal of Eddie Brock/Venom has been a hit with audiences and a highlight of Sony's Spider-Man Universe. However, the English actor has clarified that The Last Dance is the last of this series. He could return as the character in another project, but he won't star in another movie as Eddie. That said, there are still some doors that remain open for these characters.
A small part of Venom remains in the MCU and Sony has plans for Knull, the villainous creator of the symbiote, following Venom 3. Sony's plans are still unknown, and these characters could return in its own universe or the MCU. Sony knows audiences want to see Venom and Spider-Man in the same project, and Knull is an excellent villain who could tie the two together. Fortunately, there's a way for Sony to get Knull and Venom into the MCU without Hardy, and it could be in Avengers 6.
Venom 3 Establishes That Knull Can't Escape His Prison Without A Codex
Knull is still trapped on Klyntar
Venom 3 opens with an exposition sequence, explaining Knull and his connection to the symbiotes. Knull is the King in Black, a dark deity who is the father of the symbiotes. However, the symbiotes betrayed him and imprisoned him on Klyntar, preventing his dark reach from extending to multiple universes. Knull can only escape with a codex, a key formed when a symbiote revives its human host, merging their life forces. A codex formed between Eddie and Venom in the first film, which explains why the Xenophages (symbiote hunters) chase them in Venom 3.
The codex can only be destroyed if Eddie or Venom dies, and Venom sacrifices himself during the third film's climax. Knull is once again stuck in his prison, but the Venom 3 post-credit scene hints there will be more of him in the future. However, it's hard to know when that will be, especially since the codex was destroyed. However, there's a chance another codex could be formed, thanks to a Venom tease in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Spider-Man And Venom Could Form A New Codex In Avengers: Secret Wars
A piece of Venom is still sitting in the MCU
When Eddie and Venom returned to the Sony universe in No Way Home, they left a piece of Venom in the MCU. This has caused plenty of speculation among viewers, theorizing how Marvel will incorporate Venom into the MCU. The easiest link is to Tom Holland's Spider-Man since the pair have a history in the comics and on film. The earliest connection between Venom and Spider-Man is in 1984's Secret Wars storyline when Peter Parker gets his symbiote suit on Battleworld and brings it back to Earth. Spider-Man 4 releases on July 24, 2026, between Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Spider-Man and Venom could bond in the upcoming fourth film, giving Peter his black suit and paying tribute to the iconic comic book suit. It would also give him a power upgrade before fighting Doctor Doom, but Doom would still have the upper hand. Peter could die fighting Doom in Battleworld, forcing Venom to revive him and form a new codex. The emergence of a new codex would reawaken Knull and possibly tease his arrival as the next Avengers-level threat after Secret Wars.
Marvel Can Still Introduce Eddie Brock Into The MCU Later
Eddie can still return whether it's Tom Hardy or someone else
The MCU's multiverse has many confusing rules, but one that's clear is that variants do not have to look exactly like each other. Each Spider-Man actor is different from the others, but they are still variants of Peter Parker, and the same can be said for the different Loki's in the Void and the Wolverine's showcased in Deadpool & Wolverine. The MCU can introduce Eddie Brock in its universe, and he doesn't have to be played by Hardy. He doesn't have to be Topher Grace either. There can be a completely new actor portraying the character.
Additionally, introducing Eddie later would also follow the story from the comics. In Amazing Spider-Man #258, Peter took his costume to The Fantastic Four, where Reed Richards discovered a symbiote alien was attached to it. Reed used a sonic blaster to remove it from Spider-Man's suit, but the symbiote escaped and found Eddie Brock, leading to the birth of Venom. Since the Fantastic Four are arriving to the MCU soon, this could be how the MCU introduces Eddie to its universe. Hopefully, this leads to the confrontation between Spider-Man and Venom that viewers want to see, before or after Avengers: Secret Wars.
