So far, the sequel to last year’s comic book anti-hero adventureVenomis shaping up rather intriguingly. Following on from the recent news thatBlack Pantherstar and motion capture maestro Andy Serkis will be sitting in the director’s chair, we now know who will be working their magic on the cinematography forVenom 2, and it is another very interesting choice.
The three time Academy Award WinningRobert Richardsonwill be joining Serkis on this gooey comic book endeavour, as our hero Eddie Brock returns with his symbiotic companion to fight crime, take names, and more than likely eat a few heads along the way. Richardson has worked a vast array of critically acclaimed, wonderful films such as Martin Scorsese’sShutter Island, Oliver Stone’s biographical wartime dramaBorn on the Fourth of Julyand has worked in collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino on various projects includingInglourious Basterdsand this yearsOnce Upon a Time…in Hollywood. He also did Andy Serkis' directorial debut, 2017’s biographical dramaBreathe.
As well as working with some of the most talented directors of all time, Richardson also has three, count ‘em, three Academy Awards adorning his mantelpiece. Nominated for a variety of his previous work, Richardson is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after cinematographers, and the person of choice for the holy trinity of A-list directors Quentin Tarantino, Oliver Stone and Martin Scorsese, having worked with them all on numerous occasions.
Richardson worked with Tarantino on this year’s golden age of Hollywood fairytaleOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, having previously collaborated with him on the likes ofInglorious Basterds, westernsDjango UnchainedandThe Hateful Eight, as well as bothKill Billand its sequel.
He has also worked with Scorsese a number of times, putting his creative eye toCasino,Bringing Out the DeadandShutter Island. It was Scorsese’s Howard Hughes dramaThe Aviatorand his children’s fantastical celebration of cinema,Hugo, that won Richardson two of his three Academy Awards.
Working with Oliver Stone has ranged from wartime nightmarePlatoonto crime misadventureNatural Born Killers, with biographical conspiracy thrillerJFKearning Richardson his third golden statue.
Alongside Andy Serkis at the helm and Richardson behind the scenes, Tom Hardy will be reprising his duel role as bizarrely accented journalist Eddie Brock and the extraterrestrial goop that has inhabited his body. Michelle Williams is also expected to return as Eddie’s on-again-off-again girlfriend, in addition to Woody Harrelson who is likely to return asCletus Kasady, hopefully this time with a slightly less ridiculous wig.
Harrelson cameoed in the first film in a post credits scene (sporting the previously mentioned hairpiece) and has long been touted as the sequel’s villain, with his currently incarcerated character Cletus eventually joining forces with a rival symbiote ominously namedCarnage.
ThoughVenomwas not exactly beloved by critics, audiences could not get enough of Hardy and his parasitic pal, and the film made an eye-watering $800 million becoming the highest grossing superhero origin of all time. Despite the critical spanking, the talent being gathered so far is sure to intrigue even the most venomous ofVenomdetractors.ComicBook.com.
