Spider-Man: Far From Home featured a post-credits scene that proved to be a massive game-changer for Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With his identity revealed to the world, the web-slinger's status quo was left a mystery, though this December's Spider-Man: No Way Home promises to show the disastrous consequences of Peter's attempts to erase what happened.
With Tom Holland's Spidey set to be thrown into the Multiverse, it's inevitable that he'll soon start crossing paths with the characters that inhabit Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
However, little did we know a film like Venom: Let There Be Carnage would have such world-shattering consequences for that world, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and No Way Home. This wasn't shown to press during early screenings, but with the sequel now in theaters, fans are going crazy.
Here's a closer look at what led to this, how the stinger plays out, and where we're going next...
A Little Background...
Disney and Sony Pictures' agreement to share Spider-Man is what brought Peter Parker into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Spider-Man: Homecoming benefited greatly from the hero's debut in Captain America: Civil War, while the next two Avengers films helped propel Spider-Man: Far From Home into that elusive $1 billion club.
Things broke down between the two studios, but anger from fans helped bring about a new financial agreement that means Spider-Man will continue to be shared. However, it was made clear at the time that the plan was for Tom Holland's version of the character to be part of the MCU and SSMU.
2018's Venom was the first film set in the SSMU, with Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Morbius set to join it. Kraven the Hunter, Silk, and Madame Web will also be in this Sony-owned shared universe, but are those characters all about to join the MCU? Michael Keaton's Adrian Toomes being in that Morbius trailer was the first indication it would be the case; now, we have another.
What Happens
At the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Eddie Brock and Venom have gone on the run and are shown chilling out on a beach (an apparent nod to the villain taking refuge on a desert island after he was fooled into thinking he'd killed Spider-Man).
In this post-credits scene, the unlikely duo can be seen in bed watching a telenovela. It's not the nicest hotel room, and talk between Eddie and Venom turns to the sort of things the alien has experienced over the years. Just as Venom prepares to offer his human host a glimpse into his past, the world around them begins to shake, there's a glow from outside, and they're transported to a new hotel room on a different Earth (Venom confirms this isn't something he's responsible for).
It looks completely different, and a news report is playing with J. Jonah Jameson talking about the MCU's Spider-Man; an unmasked Peter is shown on television in the middle of New York City and Venom likes what he sees. He licks the screen and has clearly set his sights on the hero. The big twist here, however, is that Venom has been brought directly into the MCU!
Where Do We Go Next?
Clearly, whatever brings the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Electro into the MCU has the same impact on Venom. We don't know if that means he'll be the sixth member of that interdimensional Sinister Six, but we'd be shocked if Eddie doesn't show up in some way, shape, or form in the threequel.
A post-credits scene setting up a Spider-Man 4 following Spidey battling Venom makes perfect sense, and it appears Marvel Studios will be heavily involved with that. A new director is likely to be at the helm following Jon Watts' decision to move on to Fantastic Four, and we're guessing that Eddie will be sent back to his own world in time for a Venom 3 with the regular cast.
How this will facilitate future crossovers with Spider-Man remains to be seen, but No Way Home is bound to clear things up. In Venom's world, The Daily Bugle is a newspaper. In this one, it's a "news" show run by the belligerent J. Jonah Jameson; something tells us more crossovers are coming...