The 'Gifted' actress is currently in negotiations to join the cast of the upcoming Sony film that already includes Tom Hardy, Riz Ahmed and Michelle Williams.
- Oct 4, 2017
AceShowbiz - The cast of Sony Pictures' "Venom (2018)" is slowly but surely shaping up. A new report from Variety has emerged saying that Jenny Slate is currently in negotiations to join the cast of the upcoming Spider-Man spin-off that focuses on one of the most infamous villains.
According to the news outlet, Slate is set to play a scientist, though details about the character are still kept under wraps. The 35-year-old comedian/actress is joining the cast that already has Tom Hardy, who takes on the titular role, Michelle Williams and Riz Ahmed.
The film is set for an October 5, 2018 release in theaters across the nation. Serving behind the lens will be Ruben Fleischer, who is best known as the director of 2009's critically-acclaimed and financially-successful "Zombieland", his first feature film. Production is set to begin this fall.
Fleischer will direct "Venom" from a script provided by Scott Rosenberg ("Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle") and Jeff Pinker ("The Dark Tower"). On Tuesday, October 3, Variety's Justin Kroll reported that the studio had hired Kelly Marcel ("Fifty Shades of Grey") to pen the "latest draft of script."
VENOM update: Kelly Marcel ( 50 SHADES OF GREY) penning latest draft of script
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) October 4, 2017
"Venom" is being produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach along with Amy Pascal, the former Chairperson of the Motion Pictures Group of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Palak Patel and Eric Fineman are overseeing the project for Columbia Pictures.
The film reportedly will be based on the villain who appeared in "Spider-Man 3". It is expected that the character could serve as an antidote to the aging "Spider-Man" franchise in the way that Fox has used Wolverine to add longevity to its "X-Men" franchise.
Slate has a variety of work behind her including roles in dramas such as "Gifted" and lighthearted dramedies like "Aardvark" and "The Polka King". She just wrapped production on Drew Pearce's thriller "Hotel Artemis", in which she stars opposite Jodie Foster, Zachary Quinto and Sofia Boutella.
