Sony may have given the MCU the answer it needs for its next Thanos after the Multiverse Saga. Sony surprised many by confirming that Knull will appear in Venom: The Last Dance. It’s unclear how large The King in Black’s role would be, but Knull is easily the most powerful villain in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Audiences have anticipated Knull’s live-action debut for a while, but there is concern that Sony would turn him into a one-and-done villain. Fortunately, Venom 3 co-writer and director Kelly Marcel told IGN that his story is only beginning.
“The King in Black is way too powerful for ‘one and done. This film introduces Knull, but it just touches the beginnings of his story. Marvel’s greatest film villains are developed over time. Here, Knull is the threat lurking behind the danger that tests the absolute limits of Eddie and Venom’s partnership — but it’s their relationship that remains the heart of this story. ”
Comic book readers know Knull as the God of the Symbiotes, the father of Venom, Carnage, and other powerful alien beings. He is a powerful eldritch deity. He is decidedly too strong for Venom to take down by himself, so Venom: The Last Dance will likely end with Knull’s return looming on the horizon. The Sony universe and the MCU have already crossed over before with Spider-Man: No Way Home, so it could theoretically happen again. Knull has the potential to be a multiversal villain who rises to the level of Thanos.
Venom: The Last Dance’s Knull Comments Make A Villain Crossover Seem Likely
Knull Is A Villain Worthy Of The MCU
Marcel’s comments suggest that Knull’s role in Venom 3 will be his introduction and his story will continue in future films. However, developing the villain exclusively in the Sony universe could be tough. The Last Dance is supposedly the final Venom film and Knull isn’t a character who belongs in a movie like Kraven the Hunter. Sony doesn’t have any confirmed plans beyond Kraven, besides the Spider-Verse films, so it’s tough to predict where Knull could appear next.
However, the symbiotes work as a hive mind and several are aware of the different universes that others have encountered. The MCU and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe have crossed paths before, including Venom’s brief teleportation to the MCU and Vulture’s odd appearance in Morbius. Since Sony’s characters won’t be enough to defeat Knull, the villain will likely expand to the MCU, becoming a problem for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and other Avengers.
Knull’s Crossover Would Justify Venom’s MCU Appearance
Venom’s MCU Appearance In The MCU Has Been Wasted So Far
Venom: Let There Be Carnage ended with a significant tease of a crossover between Venom and Holland’s Spider-Man. Besides a humorous post-credit scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home, neither Marvel nor Sony has capitalized on that tease. Venom did leave a bit of his symbiote in the MCU, but that hasn’t been addressed yet. Bringing Venom to the MCU for that scene alone seems like a waste of time, but a multiversal villain could tie everything together. Knull’s MCU introduction would perfectly justify Venom’s MCU appearance and set up a possible team-up between Venom and Spider-Man.
Tom Hardy has confirmed Venom 3 is the last film in the franchise, but that doesn’t mean it’s his last time as Venom. A crossover film between him and Spider-Man could be an excellent way to end his story, especially in a final battle with Knull. It also would justify the piece of Venom left in the MCU. If Peter finds this tiny fragment of Venom, he could learn how to defeat Knull if he shows up. Sony wants to bring Spider-Man into its universe and The King in Black presents a perfect opportunity.
Knull Is A Perfect Villain For The MCU To Repeat What Made Thanos Work
Knull Has Many Connections To Marvel Lore
Knull works in the MCU as he already has several connections to canon lore. In the comics, he creates All Black the Necrosword, a weapon capable of killing gods, which he uses to eliminate a celestial. The Necrosword was already introduced in the MCU as Gorr the God Butcher used it to kill several deities in Thor: Love and Thunder. However, much of that was off-screen, so it’d be cool to see the Necrosword in the hands of its original user and used more brutally. Like Thanos, Knull’s presence in the MCU has been established before his arrival.
The MCU can use this opportunity to collaborate with Sony and develop Knull after Venom: The Last Dance. While he is an Avengers-level threat, the MCU is building toward Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom. However, rumors suggest Sony wants to do another Spider-Man team-up film with Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield. Knull is a perfect villain for the three of them to unite against, and would surely create another billion-dollar blockbuster. However, Knull is someone who deserves the attention of all the Avengers.
