“Venom 4: King in Black” imagines a high-stakes, cosmic escalation of the Venom saga, thrusting Eddie Brock—and his symbiotic alter ego—into an existential battle against the malevolent deity Knull. Following the events of Venom: The Last Dance, where a small fragment of the symbiote survives via a cockroach, the narrative pivots to a more cosmic-and-horrific scale. Sony has reportedly confirmed that a fourth installment is officially in development with a hefty production budget of around $200–250 million. Early leaks suggest Tom Hardy reprises his role while Tom Holland’s Spider‑Man may join forces with Venom, offering a compelling and tension-filled partnership . Knull, the godlike symbiote overlord, is poised to emerge from his Klyntar prisons to threaten Earth—and possibly beyond .

The film reportedly picks up from The Last Dance’s post‑credits tease, where Knull’s ominous presence looms over the Sony Spider‑Man Universe (SSU), signaling a narrative thread that binds the franchise to darker, cosmic stakes . Eddie’s internal struggle becomes central: battling not just external forces, but also the corruptive Codex fragment that binds him to Knull’s will . This inner conflict enriches the story, compelling Eddie to reclaim his humanity and assert control over his dual nature.

The speculated alliance between Venom and Spider‑Man promises a dynamic contrast—Venom’s raw, unpredictable ferocity counterbalanced by Spider‑Man’s athleticism and moral compass. This uneasy truce merges the visceral action of symbiote warfare with the grounded heroism of Spider‑Man, culminating in a climactic showdown across symbiote-infested New York City streets . The tone reportedly shifts darker, with a grittier, horror-infused atmosphere that heightens the sense of dread and cosmic peril.

Themes of identity, redemption, and unity recur throughout, as Eddie grapples with his fractured sense of self while forming reluctant alliances to ward off apocalypse. Visually, the film promises sweeping, CGI-rich sequences: symbiote tendrils engulfing landmarks, a city bathed in shadow, and the looming figure of Knull commanding legions of alien creatures .

Although Tom Hardy’s three-film arc as Eddie Brock appears completed, he has hinted he may be open to further appearances—particularly in a crossover with Spider‑Man . The groundwork laid in The Last Dance leaves the door open for Venom’s return, even if a new actor or character could embody the symbiote in future installments.

In essence, “Venom 4: King in Black”—though still speculative—represents a bold leap: from urban anti‑hero antics to a cosmic horror spectacle. If realized, it could transform Sony’s Spider‑Man Universe into something darker, deeper, and far more epic than ever before.