5) The Marvel-Netflix Approach
Alternatively, the relationship between Venom and the MCU could take a leaf out of how Marvel’s Netflix shows fit into the wider universe. Though the adventures of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist definitely take place within the same world that we’re watching in the movies, the connection isn’t actually that big a deal within the TV series themselves.
Unlike Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which features movie characters like Phil Coulson, Lady Sif and even a brief cameo from Nick Fury, the Marvel-Netflix shows won’t ever feature the likes of, say, Captain America or Iron Man. With a very different tone, they’re mostly happy to keep to themselves but will occasionally namedrop a hero from the movies or allude to a big screen event in order to remind viewers that they’re set in the same world.
That could be the approach Sony and Marvel take with Venom. With no true crossover with the MCU, Venom would be solely Sony’s project – just as Kevin Feige has said it would be in the past – but Pascal’s comments about it being an “adjunct” to the Homecoming movies would still apply. All it would take is a reference to a certain red and blue wallcrawler or maybe the Avengers themselves to please fans and tie it all into the bigger picture. This might be the least interesting option available to link the movies, but it would be the easiest to achieve.
