The actor will be seen in the explosive new movie in just a few weeks’ time, starring as the iconic antagonist of the Spider-Man universe.
How – and if – this character can link in any way with the MCU’s separate Spider-Man work remains to be seen, but it looks like the upcoming blockbuster is just the beginning.
In a new interview, British star Hardy revealed he has already signed up to potentially film as many as two sequels.
“I’m open to whatever you want to do with it,” he told Total Film.
“We’ve signed up for three of them. So it’s very much an open case. We’ll see what people’s responses are to it.”
He added: “I think it’s an awesome character. I love playing both of them.
“It’s an amuse-bouche, and for Sony, it’s the Venom-verse launched in isolation, as it were.”
In the same interview, Hardy had admitted his knowledge of the character before landing the part was somewhat limited.
“I’m not going to lie, I just thought he was a black Spider-Man,” he recalled.
“I didn’t really read comic books, so my information was limited. But I was given loads of comics when I got involved. All the comics!
“And more importantly, I had my son as my guide. I was versed in the way of Venom by a 10-year-old. I consulted the oracle, there. And he would steer me on.”
In addition to Hardy as Eddie Brock and Venom, the movie will also star Michelle Williams as Anne Weying and Riz Ahmed as Carlton Drake/Riot.
Scott Haze, Reid Scott, Woody Harrelson and Jenny Slate also have roles, with Ruben Fleischer in the director’s chair.
It was recently reported that Venom could open to as much as $85 million, a long way up from its initial forecast of $30-50 million.
If it can open to a stronger total in the US than Gravity’s $55.8 million, it will earn a new record for the biggest October bow ever.
Venom is out on October 5.