Sony Is Developing a New Animated Venom Film, Directors Named

Lead

Sony Pictures has greenlit a new Venom feature as an animated film, with directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein attached. The project was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and is currently in very early development, with no writer yet announced. Sony Pictures Animation is soliciting writers and pitches, and trade coverage says Tom Hardy is expected to return in some capacity. Given the lack of a script and recruitment still underway, industry observers expect a release likely several years away.

Key Takeaways

• Sony Pictures has moved the Venom franchise into animation and named Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein as directors, per industry reporting.
• The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter; no screenwriter is attached at the time of reporting.
• Sony Pictures Animation is actively recruiting writers and taking pitches for the project.
• Tom Hardy is reported to be expected to return in some role, though whether as producer or voice actor is unspecified.
• The directing team previously helmed the surprise hit Final Destination: Bloodlines, increasing their industry momentum.
• With no script yet, a theatrical release is likely several years out, with some speculation pointing toward a date closer to 2030.
• The move follows the success of animated Spider-Man films, suggesting Sony sees animation as a way to expand its Marvel-linked IPs.

Background

Sony has been exploring multiple formats for its Marvel-derived characters, balancing live-action tentpoles and animated projects. The Spider-Man franchise has already demonstrated the commercial and creative upside of animation with two released Spider-Verse features and a third on the schedule. Venom, introduced in Sony’s live-action lineup beginning in 2018, has remained a high-profile property centered on Tom Hardy’s portrayal.

Venom: The Last Dance, released in 2024, closed out the character’s most recent live-action arc and drew large audiences despite mixed critical response. Studios often turn to animation to broaden storytelling possibilities and to connect disparate continuities without the logistical constraints of live-action casting or crossover commitments. Sony Pictures Animation has led several franchise-adjacent projects and is now soliciting creative proposals for Venom’s animated incarnation.

Main Event

The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage identifies Lipovsky and Stein as directors for the upcoming Venom animation effort. The pair recently rose in profile after directing Final Destination: Bloodlines, and are said to be in demand for multiple projects. Sony Pictures Animation is reportedly open to pitches and actively recruiting writers to shape the script and direction of the film.

Trade reporting indicates that Tom Hardy is expected to be involved in some capacity, but Sony and Hardy’s team have not confirmed a formal role. That leaves open options ranging from a producer credit and creative consultancy to voice work or archival-audio involvement. Without a writer on board, the creative approach — whether a standalone story, a soft reboot, or a tie-in with other Sony-Marvel animation — remains undecided.

Industry timelines for animated tentpoles typically span multiple years from writer recruitment to release, which aligns with early speculation that this Venom film may not reach theaters until later in the decade. Sony’s decision follows recent studio strategies that leverage animation to expand franchises while preserving live-action continuity where studios choose to do so.

Analysis & Implications

Converting Venom to animation opens narrative and visual doors that are harder to achieve in live-action. Animation allows for more extreme physicality, imaginative worldbuilding, and stylistic experimentation that can align the character closer to his comic-book roots. For Sony, animation can also reduce some logistical costs tied to large-scale live-action effects and cross-studio negotiation for cameo appearances.

The move will be watched closely for how it positions the Venom property relative to Sony’s other Marvel-linked projects. If Sony uses this film to connect to broader animated continuity — including the Spider-Verse line — it could create cross-promotional opportunities and help rationalize multiple versions of a character across media. An animated Venom could also appeal to international markets and streaming windows differently than a live-action release.

From a talent and production standpoint, attaching Lipovsky and Stein signals Sony’s intention to pair franchise scale with directors who have recently delivered a commercially noteworthy title. Their involvement may attract writers and animators interested in blending blockbuster energy with genre inventiveness. If Tom Hardy participates in voice or production, the film would retain a throughline to the live-action era while still reinventing the property’s tone.

Comparison & Data

The table above highlights the studio’s recent pattern: Spider-Man has succeeded in animation, while Venom’s recent outings have been live-action. Turning Venom into an animated feature would mark a format pivot and echo Sony’s previous willingness to alternate approaches for different characters.

Reactions & Quotes

Sony’s move to animation for Venom represents a strategic play to broaden narrative scope while leveraging directors who have proven capable of delivering genre hits.

Industry trade analysis

Fans and commentators online immediately flagged the potential for animation to allow more comic-accurate visuals and to facilitate crossovers without the same logistical hurdles as live-action.

Social response summary

Unconfirmed

• Tom Hardy’s precise role (voice actor, producer, or other) has not been confirmed by Sony or Hardy’s representatives.
• No screenwriter has been publicly attached, so the film’s plot, tone, and continuity ties remain undecided.
• There is no official release window; industry commentary suggesting a date near 2030 is speculative based on typical animation development cycles.

Bottom Line

Sony’s decision to develop Venom as an animated feature represents a meaningful strategic shift that could expand storytelling options and connect the character to broader animated universes. Attaching in-demand directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein gives the project early momentum, but the absence of a writer and official production timeline means major creative choices are still pending.

For audiences, an animated Venom promises different possibilities — from stylistic reinvention to easier crossovers with other animated properties — while preserving the option for live-action continuations. Over the next year, announcements about writers, casting, and whether the film will tie into Spider-Verse continuity will determine whether this becomes an incremental expansion or a significant franchise retooling.

Sources

• Gizmodo (news report)
• The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade report)