Warning! Spoilers Ahead

It’s official: “We are Venom” no more. Tom Hardy’s journey as Eddie Brock in Venom: The Last Dance wraps up with a dramatic finish, but it also brings a thrilling new chapter into focus. As fans flock to theaters for the trilogy’s finale, they’re treated to the fiery debut of Marvel’s ultimate alien god supervillain, Knull, setting up some seriously chilling potential for the future. Spoilers ahead!

Under director Kelly Marcel, Eddie Brock’s last stand against Knull and his horde of xenophages is packed with action, emotion, and, yes, a major sacrifice. To save the world from Knull’s sinister reach, Eddie’s beloved symbiote Venom bonds with the deadly xenophages, taking them down and himself in the process. The third act delivers plenty of high-stakes action as the codex hidden within Eddie — the key to Knull’s prison — is destroyed, keeping Knull contained, but tragically costing Venom his life. Eddie, finally free of the authorities’ watchful eye, is left alone, but pays tribute to his alien buddy on a nostalgic visit to New York City.

However, fans of this darker side of the Marvel Universe need not worry — Knull is only getting started. In the film’s mid-credits scene, the infamous “King in Black” is seen vowing revenge, hinting at his potential return in future films. Marcel, who directed and co-wrote all three Venom films, revealed her excitement for the new storyline, noting, “Knull is massive. This is just a taster of the larger story we’re itching to explore. You can’t just do one Knull movie.”

While this is the official end of the Venom trilogy, Marcel hints that it may not be the last we see of the Venom universe. “Tommy and I always knew Eddie and Venom’s story would be a trilogy,” Marcel shared. “Sony has been an incredible partner, letting us take bold steps with Eddie and Venom, but we also knew we wanted to set the stage for a larger universe — without linking directly to the MCU.”

Despite the excitement of potential new films, Marcel is ready for a much-deserved break. “We only just wrapped this film two weeks ago! I’m thinking about vacation before tackling the next step.”

Venom: The Last Dance marks the end of a groundbreaking era, but with the introduction of Knull, the door is wide open for a chilling new chapter in this alien universe. One thing’s for sure: fans of the symbiote saga are in for an epic ride.