Tom Hardy’s look in Venom: The Last Dance has caused fans to worry. While Hardy’s aging between the 2018 and 2024 movies is a factor that the franchise can’t control, fans believe that the old wrinkled look of Hardy was kept in the film on purpose. They believe that Eddie Brock’s worn-out look within the span of a year (according to the continuity of the movies) had something to do with Venom occupying his body.
Fans began to argue the possibility of the symbiote hurting Eddie and probably killing him. Riot, another symbiote, usually takes on a host and feeds on their organs from the inside, thus killing its human hosts. Venom, on the other hand, took a liking to Eddie and hasn’t harmed him intentionally. However, fans believe that the presence of the parasite itself is killing him.
Tom Hardy’s Transformation In Venom: The Last Dance Is Concerning For Fans
Tom Hardy‘s latest Venom film hasn’t been a hit with critics or home audience. However, there are hardcore fans who still love the Venom lore and Hardy’s performance in the film. For these fans, there was one major troubling issue in The Last Dance. Fans observed that Hardy’s look underwent a drastic transformation from the last two films.
While the previous two movies had the actor appear in a much younger look, Venom: The Last Dance decided to embrace his old age. He donned his gray hair for the film and his face looked wrinkled throughout the film. Within the continuity of the trilogy, the latest film takes place only a year after the previous film.
Fans began speculating on X that Hardy’s worn-out look was intentionally included in the film. They believed that the filmmakers wanted to portray that the Venom symbiote had an adverse effect on Eddie’s health. One fan commented that the character looked emotionally broken. Some of the fan reactions read:
what did they do to tom hardy?
— Tayla May 🖤 (@taylamay222) October 31, 2024
Venom aged Eddie a lot in one year. Man is STRESSED. pic.twitter.com/WLikzXx7Tx
— TheVenomSite (@thevenomsite) October 31, 2024
Ngl it fits with the continuity tbh since venom is technically a parasite
— SPACEY (@SpaceXGodXodD) October 31, 2024
In the comics doesn’t he realize that although venom helped him he finds out that he is slowly draining the life from him?
— 𝖜𝖜𝖜.𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐇𝐞𝐥.𝖈𝖔𝖒 (@samhelfilms) October 31, 2024
What just happened to him?
He seems emotionaly broken— Minha Khan (@Minhakhan888) October 31, 2024
The discussion also took place on Reddit where fans argued that the Venom also used its healing powers on Eddie, unlike other symbiotes. According to Marvel’s Venom: The End comics, the symbiote didn’t have a deteriorating effect on its host. However, it desperately tries to save Eddie’s organs which were failing due to his old age.
In this particular storyline, Eddie’s brain starts to decay and his neurons start to die when he hits age 200, but Venom replaces them as he doesn’t want to let go of his beloved host. Eddie’s internal organs, down to his cellular structure, are replaced with venomized cellular analogues. After 500 years, when Venom finally decides to withdraw from his body, Eddie crumbles to dust in Venom’s arms.
Is Tom Hardy’s Venom: The Last Stand A Flop?
While the final Venom film has failed to impress domestic audiences, the film is still far from being a flop. According to THR, The Last Dance has opened to $175 million, despite the disappointing $51 million at the domestic box office. The film performed well in international markets including China and earned a staggering $124 million at the overseas box office.
The film has crossed its production budget of $120 million and is likely to double or triple the returns. However, it still won’t be a success like its predecessors. Interestingly, Hardy noted in an interview with The Wrap that Venom: The Last Dance was the best of all the Venom films. He has also written some portions of the film, which was written & directed by his friend Kelly Marcel.
Venom is available for streaming on Disney+, while Venom: Let there be Carnage is available on Starz.
