Last week, an eagle-eyed Reddit user noticed that a trailer for the upcomingsci-fi thriller Life, which hits theaters on March 24, recycled a brief shot fromSpider-Man 3. This lead other users on Reddit to concoct a theory thatLifemay actually be a secret prequel to theVenomspin-off. That the alien creature featured inLifeis the symbiote that eventually becomesVenom. While this theory is far-fetched, since there are no confirmed ties betweenLifeand the Marvel Comics universe, the team behind Life have taken a surprise stance on this idea. Now the writers and their director refuse to deny this outlandish rumor.
ComicBook.comattended a recent press event whereLifewritersRhett ReeseandPaul Wernick, who also wrote the R-rated superhero blockbusterDeadpool, were asked about this theory.Paul Wernickclaimed that “We are tied to Venom!“Rhett Reesepointed out that, while theVenommovie was previously in development at Sony, the writing team had written a script for theVenom movie, which some fans took as more evidence to support the outlandish theory. Here’s whatRhett Reesehad to say about why this theory came to be.
“We wrote a Venom screenplay, so I think people saw that connection. They also saw the Spider-Man 3 footage that sneaked its way into our last trailer. They just announced aVenom movie release datejust yesterday.”
Still, the writers didn’t deny this theory, and neither did directorDaniel Espinosaduring a new interview with Collider. Why Sony has denied that this fan theory is not true, supposedly ‘debunking’ it, Espinosa wasn’t so quick to write it off. He says this, in a supposedly joking manner.
“I found out three days ago, The Sony picture people took me aside, they took me into this dark room, and they showed me this different angle, where JFK got shot. They then said, ‘We are the people in power. You have made the prequel to Venom.’ And I’m like, ‘F*ck!’ There’s nothing to do about that, you know?”
Pressed for his actual thoughts on the Venom fan theory, Espinosa went onto say this.
“I’m a great Venom fan. I’m the fourth biggest comic book buyer of Sweden. And I am a Marvel fan. Do you know what it means to me, when I go back to my comic book shop, that I did the prequel to Venom? I’m the coolest person in the comic book shop.”
Things get interesting when asked if he can state outright that the fan theory is ‘complete bullish*t’. His answer is quite surprising.
“I’m not commenting on anything! I’m the coolest guy in my comic book shop. That’s all that matters to me.”
TheVenomcharacter was created in 1988 byDavid Micheline, with artwork provided byTodd McFarlaneandMike Zeck.Venomis analien symbiotethat needs a human host to survive, which provides the human with incredible powers. The character was originally conceived as a villain, but he became an anti-hero and almost a bona fide good guy in a lengthy stretch of the comics. The current Marvel Comics portray Eddie Brock/Venom as a villain who has teamed up with Flash Thompson, Peter Parker’s old high school nemesis who now works as a government agent.
Despite the lack of denials, it still seems unlikely that there is a connection betweenLifeand this newVenommovie, but there have been a few instances where studios have surprised fans. The new thrillerSplitended with a surprise scene that set up a connection with another one ofM. Night Shyamalan’s films. Paramount has also surprised fans in the past by revealing that a small-budget indie previously known asThe Cellarwould be re-titled10 Cloverfield Lane, which connects to theCloverfielduniverse, as does the upcomingGod Particle. Just last fall, Lionsgate unveiled that a horror-thriller entitledThe Woodswas actually entitledBlair Witch. Even with all of these recent examples, it seems unlikely that the alien featured in theLifemovie has any connection to the newSpider-Manfranchise, which kicks off withSpider-Man: Homecomingon July 7. As forVenom,Alex Kurtzmanwill be directing the spin-off, which has been given an July 12, 2025 release date.
