Carnage is about to blow up in a big way. As the villain in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the psychopathic symbiote, played by Woody Harrelson, is about to show moviegoers why he's one of Spider-Man's most terrifying villains and that's been a long time coming. For years, Carnage was one of the Web-Slinger's most distinct foes and general audiences getting to know him better is just what the doctor ordered.
The whole thing gives birth to an intriguing possibility, that of a Carnage solo film. The possibilities for such a film are endless and it would be a big step up for the Marvel villain that's always had to play second-fiddle to Venom.
10 Giving Woody Harrelson His Own Movie Is Always A Good Idea
In recent years, Woody Harrelson hasn't really starred in his own movies but older fans who remember movies like Natural Born Killers and The People Vs Larry Flynt know something about the actor that most have forgotten - he can be an amazing leading man. Harrelson is one of the most unsung actors in Hollywood and his talent would be critical in bringing Carnage to life in a full-length solo film.
Harrleson is the kind of actor who can do it all and seeing him really get to sink his teeth into Carnage would be amazing. The casting is perfect and he deserves more time to really make it shine.
9 It Opens Things Up For More Symbiotes
In the comics, Spider-Man has had to go up against a bevy of symbiotic beings, with Carnage only being the second. The symbiotes are living beings after all and living things are known for reproducing and multiplying. A Carnage film could have more symbiote madness and that could only be a good thing for audiences.
Whether it be seeing Carnage create new symbiotic minions to spread chaos and death or seeing him have to battle against them, a Carnage movie can only expand on the ideas presented before it and/or create more classic or brand new symbiotic characters for Sony to use.
8 He's A Different Kind Of Villain Than Moviegoers Are Used To
Fans of superhero movies have always been treated to the same villainous archetypes over and over again. There's the relatable bad guy, like Magneto, Loki, and Killmonger. There's the all-powerful evil being like Thanos or Apocalypse. There are the evil businessmen like Green Goblin or Vulture. Not to mention, the villains with a grudge like Whiplash or Mysterio.
Carnage isn't like any of them. He just likes to kill. This lack of any greater motivation has made him a rather underrated villain in a lot of ways but he's also perfect for movies. He's different than anything they've seen in a superhero movie and giving him a whole movie to expand him is a great idea.
7 The Horror Movie Vibe He Has Can Invigorate An Often Stale Genre
Carnage's love of chaos and death gives him a slasher movie villain vibe and a movie starring him can really play into that, much like the best Carnage stories in the comics did. One of the problems with superhero movies is that they can often feel a bit stale. This is exacerbated by the MCU, which makes entertaining yet formulaic films.
Seeing as how a Carnage movie won't be part of the MCU, this gives the film a chance to be something different. Leaning into Carnage's horror movie vibe could give superhero movies a breath of fresh air, something they sometimes need to stay relevant.
6 The Movie Can Lean Into The Psychological More Than Usual
Carnage has been through a lot of changes over the years, but one thing that has stayed the same is the core of his character. Cletus Kasady is an insane, remorseless killer who takes glee in his work. This gives any film he's in a psychological edge not unlike movies like Silence of the Lambs, one that could be best explored in a solo movie.
Besides Carnage's obvious horror aesthetic, a Carnage movie could also lean more into the psychological side of things; trying to figure what makes him tick and how to use that to stop him. Again, this an angle that most superhero movies don't go in and it would be interesting to see on the big screen.
5 Cletus Kasady Is A Great Character To Focus On
Cletus Kasady isn't the only Carnage host, but he's easily the best. There is a lot more to the character than meets the eye, and while using him as a villain in the Venom sequel is a great way to introduce him, giving him a solo movie will really flesh him out. Giving Woody Harrelson a chance to really explore and flesh out who the character is in a solo movie is a great idea.
Cletus Kasady is an interesting character to build a whole movie around, one who can take the story in all kinds of directions, supplying moviegoers with a film the likes of which they've rarely seen.
4 A Carnage Movie Can Be A Way To Introduce A New Hero
Carnage's symbiote makes him a very tough villain to deal with. A movie starring him would need someone to fight him. Sony has access to the full gamut of Spider-Man-related characters, so there are a lot of characters to choose from. For example, the movie could bring in someone like Spider-Gwen or Silk. However, there's another hero that could be introduced in live-action.
Sony has already used Miles Morales for its Into The Spider-Verse animated films but a live-action Miles could easily be introduced in a Carnage movie and fans everywhere would rejoice.
3 The Movie Will Have Amazing Visuals
Carnage is one of the most interesting symbiotes of them all. Venom is cool and all, but beyond his mouth, he's pretty run of the mill. His symbiote is more of a living costume. Carnage's symbiote, though, has always been different and he uses it in different ways, using it to create weapons in ways that Venom doesn't or can't. On top of that, it's more visually interesting.
Movies are very much a fluid visual medium and Carnage makes for better visuals than just about any other symbiotic character out there. A movie starring him could give him more time to put this on display, giving moviegoers a feast for the eyes.
2 It's The Chance To Do Something To Rival Joker
Joker is one of the best comic movies ever made. It gave another view of the iconic villain and won Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar, something that's becoming normal for actors playing the Joker. It was a triumph in every way possible and no Marvel movie has ever done anything like it, although Logan came close.
Taking a Carnage movie in a Joker-esque direction would a bold choice that could pay dividends. Woody Harrelson is the perfect type of actor for it if they go that direction as well as he's already an Oscar-nominated actor. A Carnage movie could do something for Marvel characters that no other movie, MCU or otherwise, has done before, deliberately bait out an Oscar.
1 It Could Mean Marvel Villain Movies In The MCU
One would never know it from watching the MCU due to its mostly one-dimensional villains, but the Marvel Universe is full of amazing bad guys, many of whom could easily front their own movies. The MCU is notoriously unadventurous in a lot of ways, but perhaps seeing the success of a Carnage movie would motivate them to take more risks.
With the acquisition of the X-Men, a property with some of the best villains ever, the MCU could put out a whole bunch of great villain movies and a Sony Carnage film could show them just how what kind of box office legs an MCU villain movie could have. It could be a harbinger of some great things to come.