Creators of Knull Surprised by His Inclusion in Upcoming Venom Film

In the aftermath of dropping a fresh preview for Venom: The Last Dance, the creative minds behind the character Knull were caught off guard by his inclusion in the film. Knull, an ancient god of darkness responsible for the creation of alien symbiotes, has become a significant figure in the Venom storyline. Creators Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman took to social media to share their astonishment regarding this development.

Stegman, who illustrated Venom Vol. 4 #3 where Knull first appeared, expressed his surprise on X/Twitter, acknowledging that he had no prior knowledge of Knull's presence in the upcoming film. He humorously noted that he hoped the news would allow him to enhance his home with a lazy river moat. Cates also shared his thoughts in a lighthearted manner, posting an image with a humorous caption suggesting financial gains related to the character's use in the movie.

IGN has reached out to both creators and Sony for further comments on this situation. The issue of determining if they will be awarded payment for Knull's appearance remains uncertain, particularly given Marvel's inconsistent history in compensating comic book creators for their characters. There have been notable disputes in the past, such as Jim Starlin’s disagreements with Marvel over compensation for Thanos’ role in the Avengers films. It remains to be seen if Sony will adopt a different approach under these circumstances.

Knull's unveiling occurred in a trailer that previews Venom: The Last Dance ahead of its launch in October. This follows a significant development in the character's mythos introduced in Marvel’s 2018 Venom comic series created by Cates and Stegman. The storyline detailed Knull as one of the earliest life forms within the Marvel Universe, existing in a primordial state before the emergence of light and the Celestials, whom he considered a threat. In response, Knull created the symbiote known as All-Black the Necrosword and sought vengeance against the Celestials.

In this latest installment, Tom Hardy reprises his role as Eddie Brock, navigating challenges as both he and the symbiote find themselves pursued by various factions. The previous films in the franchise garnered mixed critiques, yet they cultivated a dedicated fanbase due to their unique campy style. Venom: The Last Dance is set to be released in cinemas release on October 25.