The Final Word On Whether Or Not Venom Is In The MCU

Venom in Marvel Comics

Marvel Studios has created a cinematic universe that includes Spider-Man. Sony is creating its own universe full of Spider-Man characters. So, are these two worlds connected? Does anybody even know? We've been getting mixed signals from the people who are supposed to answer these questions. Previously, Kevin Feige said that Sony's plans to make movies based on Venom and Silver & Black (Silver Sable and Black Cat) would not be connected to the MCU, but then Amy Pascal, who's running the Sony side of things, made comments that certainly sounded like these worlds would be connected. Finally, it appears that everybody has conferred and come up with a single answer. Amy Pascal now says that Sony's movies will not be part of the MCU. According to Pascal...

Here's what we're doing: all these characters are a part of the Marvel comic book universe. In that universe, they are all related to each other. Kevin [Feige] makes characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These characters are separate, except for Spidey, who belongs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is why he's there.

While Kevin Feige then followed this statement up be telling ComicBook.com, "we never say never," which would seemingly put everything into question again, he also says that if he were asked if Superman were going to show up in the MCU he would never say never. So if Venom is as likely to show up in the MCU as Superman, we should be able to put the concept out of our minds. Unless Disney gets it in its head to buy Sony or Warner Bros.

This answer certainly makes more sense then when there was some indication that movies like Venom could be part of the MCU. The deal between Marvel and Sony that brought Spider-Man in was presented as a one-time deal. While both studios are working together on films like Spider-Man: Homecoming, Marvel certainly wasn't going to let Sony make MCU related films without them, but there was no indication Marvel was involved in projects like Venom or Silver & Black. There was also no indication that Marvel had any interest in being involved.

Of course, this also means that Sony's Marvel universe will be missing a key character. While Sony still has the rights to Spider-Man and all the characters associated with him, it appears the plan is to build a universe with those characters, but without the wall-crawler himself. Clearly, Sony isn't ready to let the Marvel rights go entirely, and it's certainly not going to let these characters sit on a shelf and gather dust, but it will be odd to see these characters on screen without also seeing our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Dirk Libbey
Content Producer/Theme Park Beat

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.