Venom: Let There Be Carnage director Andy Serkis ultimately sees the movie as a love story between Venom and his human host Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy).
Serkis addressed Eddie and Venom's peculiar relationship in the production notes for Venom: Let There Be Carnage. "The film is a love story -- but not the love story you might think. It’s very much about the extraordinary relationship between symbiote and host," said Serkis. "Any love affair has its pitfalls, its high points and low points; Venom and Eddie’s relationship absolutely causes problems and stress, and they have a near-hatred for each other. But they have to be with each other -- they can’t live without each other. That’s companionship -- love -- the things that relationships are really about.”
Based on Serkis' comments, it sounds as though Venom: Let There Be Carnage acts as a natural continuation of 2018's Venom, a film that similarly centers on the unusual, intimate connection between the titular symbiote and his human host. The Let There Be Carnage trailers offer a small taste of this, teasing scenes where Venom cheerfully fixes a massive (and sloppy) breakfast for Eddie, as well as moments where the pair squabble with one another while battling the serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) and his symbiote Carnage.
Longtime Spider-Man and Sony/Marvel producer Avi Arad elaborated on Serkis' comments in his own statement for the Venom: Let There Be Carnage production notes. “Obviously there is danger and mistrust in the beginning, but [Eddie and Venom have] learned to live with each other,” said Arad. “It’s become a complicated marriage. Their codependence forces them to stay together, even though they’ve had it with each other. They’re going to have to come to an understanding.”
Michelle Williams is also returning for the Venom sequel as Eddie's ex-fiancée Anne Weying, whose own relationship with Eddie and his alien side remains a complicated one. Let There Be Carnage will further introduce Naomie Harris as Frances Barrison/Shriek, a character who typically acts as Cletus' love interest in Marvel's comic books. As such, the movie could end up being a "love story" in more ways than one.
After numerous delays, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is finally releasing in theaters on Oct. 1.
Source: Andy Serkis, via ComicBook.com