After months of speculation and rumors, it was finally announced that an animated Venom movie is coming our way. Sony is in the early stages of pre-production, meaning no writers are attached just yet, and no script is in place. What's certain is that the project will be helmed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, the directors behind the critically acclaimed Final Destination: Bloodlines. Furthermore, Tom Hardy will be involved in some capacity, though it remains unclear if he will be a producer or voice the character.
Given that there's no script for the Venom movie, Sony has a blank canvas on which it can build something memorable for Spider-Man fans. Unrestricted by any pre-existing stories or established franchises, this animated project can tell any story it wants. With that in mind, it shouldn't feature Eddie Brock as the Lethal Protector. Instead, Flash Thompson should be the one to get the spotlight, and here's why.
Flash Thompson should be the protagonist of Sony's animated Venom movie
Venom is the result of a host bonding with a parasitic alien—two different beings, but one monstrous result (which is why their catchphrase is "We are Venom"). Eddie Brock was not only the first person to take over the Venom mantle in comic books after bonding with the symbiote, but the two in conjunction also make for the most popular iteration of the character. Fans have watched this iconic pair wreak havoc in countless stories to date.
Eddie's version of the Lethal Protector was the main antagonist in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3, and unleashed no shortage of problems in New York during the events of the Spectacular Spider-Man animated series. They also have had a big role in multiple video games, such as Spider-Man: Web of Shadows and Unlimited Spider-Man.
When you think about the very best Venom story in comic book pages, chances are Donny Cates' Venom comes to mind, in which Eddie gets to become the god of the symbiotes. But if all of that wasn't enough, this beloved pair had an entire live-action trilogy of their own on the big screen made by Sony. At this point, audiences are very familiar with Eddie Brock's Venom, which is why many stories have started to shine the spotlight on a different host altogether.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for PS5 featured Harry Osborn as everyone's favorite Lethal Protector. Moreover, Mary Jane has taken over the Venom mantle in comic book pages, while Mac Gargan is rumored to do the same in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even Eddie Brock's son, Dylan Brock, bonded with the symbiote to carry out his father's legacy for a while. However, there is one amazing iteration of the Lethal Protector that hasn't had a chance to get the recognition it deserves in mainstream media, and that's Agent Venom.
Flash Thompson—Peter Parker's iconic bully—enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to the war in Iraq, where he lost both of his legs. Devastated by his personal loss, Flash Thompson was determined to recover what he once lost, and that's when he became a test subject in Project: Rebirth 2.0, where he bonded with the Venom symbiote.
Thanks to the parasitic alien living in his head, Flash managed to stand on his feet again. However, walking wasn't the only thing he did afterward. Adopting the Agent Venom persona, Flash became a force for good by trying to mimic his personal hero, Spider-Man. This iteration of the Lethal Protector acts like a trained soldier, willing to use guns and military equipment to accomplish no shortage of missions. But despite heavy artillery beside him, Agent Venom is more of a good guy than Eddie Brock ever was during his time with the symbiote.
Agent Venom is so popular among comic book fans that he was intended to have a live-action movie set in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. So, now that such a cinematic universe is canceled, it is the perfect time for Flash Thompson and the symbiote to be the stars of the animated Venom movie. That would allow the studio to use a character that is well-known worldwide in completely new ways that fans haven't seen in a film before. Besides, Eddie already had his time to shine, so it is long-overdue for someone else to get the same treatment.