Just when comic book fans thought it was safe to plan a night out at the movies for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, some news has made itself present. After several previous delays for Tom Hardy and Andy Serkis’ Marvel Cinematic Universe adjacent movie, another push in release dates has landed on the desk of the internet. And apparently, that’s not the only film on the Sony schedule that’s looking to make a move.
Per reporting from Variety, Venom: Let There Be Carnage has slid from its current home of September 24th to its new slot on October 15th. The reason for this new delay is, unfortunately, the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, specifically the Delta variant. But in addition to that particular twist of fate, there’s now a rumor from Deadline that Sony will be sending another one of its animated films straight to streaming, as Hotel Transylvania: Transformania may be giving up its October 1st release date.
In terms of Hotel Transylvania: Transformania’s potential shift, this kind of makes sense considering the state of Sony Pictures Animation’s 2021 slate so far. With big releases like The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Vivo both being sent to Netflix during this year’s return to theaters, that strategy may pay off in getting more eyes on that film in particular. This would especially be handy considering former distribution partner MGM has The Addams Family 2 slated for that same October 1st slot itself.
Meanwhile, Venom: Let There Be Carnage’s shift feels like it steers the film into even more complicated waters. October 15th puts Tom Hardy’s anti-heroic follow-up in an opening weekend that should see No Time To Die playing out its second weekend in movie theaters. But what’s worse is the fact that its opening weekend is also the home of the long-awaited Halloween Kills, as well as Ridley Scott’s historical epic The Last Duel.
That isn’t even the killing blow, as October 22nd is set to be one of the busiest days at the movies. So if Venom: Let There Be Carnage has any hopes of trying to keep the legs it has in the second weekend, it may want to move away from the weekend that sees Dune, Last Night In Soho, and Jackass Forever all debuting. Of course, if history is any sort of teacher, the lesson we should learn is to expect the unexpected. That applies to both audience’s tastes, as well as the potential for other delays to change the playing field ever more drastically.
Mark your calendars folks, as Venom: Let There Be Carnage will now be seen on October 15, 2021. And if you want to keep up with the game of musical chairs that is the 2021 release schedule, you can follow along through our own frequently updated calendar. Because if October is any indication, the future just might be filled with a carnage of a different kind.
