While more major releases are actually getting released these days, the studios are still not entirely confident when it comes to the box office. In most cases this has meant hybrid releases, with movies coming out on streaming services at the same time they open in theaters. But for those studios that don't have that option, the box office is all there is. This is why we're still seeing major films delayed, as there is continued hope that at some point in the nebulous future, things will be better. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is one film that has continued to be delayed, but despite rumors, it may not be getting pushed back any further.
The Venom sequel has been delayed twice this year alone. Back in March it was pushed from June of this year into September. Then earlier this month that September date was pushed back another month into October. However, almost as soon as the most recent delay happened, rumors began to swirl that the movie would get pushed yet again, this time into early 2022. These rumors started to pick up steam just this week when Sony's CinemaCon presentation did not include any news or footage of the movie.
However, Variety is now saying that rumors of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, being pushed back yet again are untrue, citing an unnamed "studio insider." One can usually trust Variety on such things, and so it would seem that those who are waiting for the sequel to come won't have to wait any longer than they do now. Hopefully it's just a couple more months and Venom 2 will be here.
Sony has been one of the studios willing to wait rather than release movies. Everything from Ghostbusters: Afterlife to Morbius, has continued to be pushed back. The latter film, another in Sony's Spider-Man universe, is now set for a 2022 release, so seeing the new Venom get similar treatment would not have been that surprising.
For good or ill, it now seems that Sony is planning to start releasing movies in theaters again in a big way. The last three months of the year will see three big Sony releases. Venom: Let There Be Carnage will open in October, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set for November, and Spider-Man: No Way Home will open in December.
Things can certainly still change. Even if there are no current plans to push Venom 2, or any other films, back right now, a month from now the landscape could look very different and such a move might prove wise. At the same time, these movies were all quite expensive and not releasing them is actually costing studios money, so at some point making some money is better than making no money.
