We might know who the villains are in "Spider-Man 4" or whether Sam Raimi will be back for "Spider-Man 5" and "Spider-Man 6," but when it comes to the connection between the "Spider-Man" franchise and a potential "Venom" movie, well...

Okay, Raimi couldn't give us much on that question, either.

But we did ask the celebrated director about how the two universes will connect, if at all, when Spider-Man's black-clad nemesis swings off into his own solo movie. Read more...

Not so fast, Venom—the longtime rival of Peter Parker's might have to wait a bit for his first solo film, particularly if he wants to swing into theaters with Gary Ross by his side.

The Playlist reports that Ross—the screenwriter behind the latest "Spider-Man 4" draft, as well as the newly appointed screenwriter and possible director of "Venom"—has been tapped to replace Steven Spielberg as the director for "Matt Helm," based on the spy-centric novel series from Donald Hamilton.

Should the news pan out, Ross's directorial attachment to "Venom" might be in question. Certainly, the superhero project would have to wait—the Playlist notes that "Matt Helm" will shoot first in the summer of 2010 should all go according to schedule. Read more...

Following up on yesterday’s news that “Spider-Man 4” scribe Gary Ross will write and direct the “Venom” spin-off; new details about the plot and story direction have emerged.

Variety is reporting that the new film will transform Venom into “an anti-hero who becomes a defender of the innocent.”

The move seems reminiscent of the '90s era “Venom” comics that cast the character as a “Lethal Protector.” However, it should be noted that while the reinvention of the character was initially successful, his popularity started to fade shortly thereafter. Read more...

Longtime enemies Spider-Man and Venom are taking the meaning of "symbiosis" quite literally as Gary Ross, the current screenwriter of "Spider-Man 4," has been hired to take a crack at Peter Parker's alien-born nemesis.

According to Variety, Ross has been tapped by Columbia Pictures to direct "Venom," the spin-off based on the popular Marvel Comics villain's previous appearance in "Spider-Man 3." Ross will also write a new draft of the screenplay shortly after finishing his work on "Spider-Man 4." Read more...

With "Spider-Man 4" gearing up for production and two planned sequels beyond that, it's clear that Peter Parker is going to be on the big screen for many years to come—but how about his ferocious nemesis Venom?

It's no secret that Sony Pictures is working on a "Venom" adaptation, but little is known about the project beyond an allegedly important role for Stan Lee and a potential Carnage appearance.

What is known, however, is that a screenplay exists for the film and Sony is ready to get the symbiotic ball rolling. Read more...

The "Venom" news has been a little slow as of late, but the previously announced screenwriters are nonetheless hard at work on the super-villain spin-off. In fact, they've already begun working on the script and have even worked in a very specific cameo.

In speaking with Superhero Hype, writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese revealed that the iconic Marvel creator Stan Lee will have a cameo appearance in "Venom," and that his role is a very particular one. Read more...

Even though Marvel fans know they'll have to wait until at least this fall to get their hands on "Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion," anticipation for the "Civil War" themed sequel continues to build following the reveal of the Thunderbolts' Green Goblin and Venom as playable characters.

The game's official Web site has gradually exposed each of its 24 characters' S.H.I.E.L.D. dossiers, which present each combatant from both a "pro-registration" or "anti-registration" point of view. Read more...

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. So, while you’d be hard-pressed to find many people who thought the black-suited baddie of “Spider-Man 3” lived up to his hype, the mastermind behind the character is encouraged by what he’s been hearing: Venom could make a return appearance in the next Spidey film.

“I co-created Venom,” artist/writer/entrepreneur Todd McFarlane told MTV News. “He was in the last ‘Spider-Man’ movie. And I think he might make an appearance here in the next one, too.”

McFarlane told us that he watched closely as director Sam Raimi developed his alien symbiote character into a role for Topher Grace in the 2007 blockbuster; but as the filmmaker sought to draw a light/dark comparison between the similarly-built Grace and Tobey Maguire, he dropped the ball on a few of the character’s key elements. Read more...

Looks like Sony Pictures ignored Dr. Curt Connors' advice -- they've touched the black goo and now their "Spider-Man" franchise is officially spinning off into the realm of a certain sinister symbiote.

Sci Fi Wire is confirmed what has been widely rumored and reported the past few months -- a "Venom" movie is officially in the works at Sony. Additionally, "Zombieland" writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are set to pen the screenplay, but don't expect the pair to talk about the project. Read more...

By Josh Wigler. Additional Reporting By Rodrigo Perez.

Back in July, word broke that Sony was interested in creating a "Venom" spin-off from the "Spider-Man" franchise, but there's been little movement since then other than a few words from symbiote sympathizers David Michelinie, Peter David, Kaare Andrews and Peter Milligan. Apparently, not even Venom's previous handler, "Spider-Man 3" director Sam Raimi, has a clue about that movie's progress -- or that it's even in development at all!

"I guess I don't know about that," Raimi told MTV News when asked about the "Venom" film. "Do you mean Carnage? Maybe you're referring to a separate movie?" Read more...