Tom Hardy Reveals Why Venom-Spider-Man Crossover Never Took Off – And It’s Not Studio Politics

Tom Hardy is setting the record straight regarding his previous comments on a potential crossover between Venom and Spider-Man. The actor, who portrays the iconic anti-hero Eddie Brock/Venom, recently cleared up the confusion surrounding remarks he made about a possible crossover between the two characters, which fans had hoped would happen after his appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Earlier, Hardy appeared to suggest that a Venom-Spider-Man film was “killed” by studio politics, a statement that quickly sparked widespread speculation. However, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter about his latest film MobLand, Hardy clarified that he was misquoted. He denied ever claiming that behind-the-scenes drama or studio politics were the cause of the crossover not happening.

“I didn’t say that, at all,” Hardy said, addressing the rumors. “That’s kind of moved on from a very simple quote that I said specifically about my children watching Venom.” Hardy explained that the comment had been taken out of context, adding, “It’s hard to explain to a young child why their favorite superheroes can’t be in a film together and that’s such a shame. And we almost got it, but it didn’t happen, which is the truth. It didn’t happen. And we almost got together because I remember being in the Spider-Man movie and you know it was connected, and it just didn’t happen.”

Hardy emphasized that no “studio politics” were at play, simply that the crossover never materialized. He also expressed that his original comment about the crossover was misunderstood, saying, “I’ve been misquoted there. People get excited about anything Venom or anything to do with superheroes and stuff and it’s sort of taken on another life. I just want to be clear that I didn’t say that.”

Previously, during an appearance on Binge-Worthy TV Podcast, Hardy had discussed the possibility of a crossover and alluded to studio politics as a potential barrier. “We got close. We got as close as I could possibly imagine getting, apart from doing a film together, which I would have loved to have done because that just means so much fun,” Hardy had said, though he clarified that these remarks were meant to express his desire for the crossover, rather than a definitive statement about studio interference.

Hardy also mentioned that his interest in a Venom-Spider-Man crossover was fueled by his children’s excitement about the characters, reflecting on how important superheroes are to younger audiences. “Fundamentally, for me, it would be for the kids,” Hardy explained. “I think I’m constantly reminded by children how important these characters are. And they don’t know why their favorite characters aren’t in films together.”

Despite the buzz surrounding the potential crossover, Hardy confirmed that no plans were ever fully set in motion. He acknowledged the limitations of working within Sony’s and Marvel’s respective film rights, particularly as Spider-Man is currently part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony retaining the film rights to the character. Hardy explained, “We were given a set of boundaries, and we were just really privileged to be able to play with a much-beloved IP like Venom in a way that we were allowed to play.”

As for the future of Venom, the future seems uncertain. Hardy recently hinted that he is done with the Venom character, suggesting that his journey as the symbiote-infused anti-hero may have come to an end. This comes amid rumors that Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff universe may be shifting away from characters like Venom, especially following the underwhelming performance of films like Kraven the Hunter and Madame Web.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man fans can look forward to Tom Holland’s return as the iconic web-slinger in Spider-Man 4, which is set to release on July 31, 2026. The movie, titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will see Holland reprise his role, alongside Zendaya and Sadie Sink in key roles. Additionally, Spider-Man is expected to appear in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, further solidifying his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With both Venom and Spider-Man continuing to be central figures in the superhero genre, it remains to be seen whether these two characters will ever cross paths on the big screen. For now, Hardy’s latest comments suggest that, while the crossover almost happened, it simply didn’t come to fruition—leaving fans to imagine what might have been.