Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Developers Reveal How They Put A New Spin On Venom

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 introduces several new antagonists to menace New York's resident web-slingers, but it's the arrival of Venom that may prove to be too much to handle for the duo. In a new interview, creative director Bryan Intihar spoke about how developer Insomniac cast Tony Todd (Candyman) as one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains and he hinted at the studio having an original take on the classic character.

When it came to casting the voice of Venom, Intihar says that he initially avoided doing that for as long as possible because of the pressure attached to finding the right actor to bring the symbiote to life. After Intihar heard a few lines of Tony Todd reprising his role as the Candyman in the 2021 film of the same name, Intihar was pleasantly surprised to discover that Todd had already submitted an audition tape for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. "Everything we talked about [with] Venom--that sense of strength, that sense of fear, that sense of overwhelming, so different from Peter--Tony embraces that completely in the performance," Intihar said to EW.

As for how Insomniac's version of Venom differs from other incarnations, Intihar said that this Venom embodies power and strength as an "anti-Spider-Man" for the heroes to face. "We wanted to try something very different, and I don't think you can get much more different from Doc Ock than you do Venom," Intihar explained. "It's about power, it's about strength, it's about being slighted, it's about Peter being involved much more in the creation of Venom. I think that's what attracted us."

According to senior narrative director Jon Paquette, Venom's arrival also shows what happens to Peter and his supporting cast when he becomes a host for the symbiote's intoxicating power, and as for the design of this villain, Insomniac walked a fine line between creating a monster that is intimidating and one that is relatable. With all the pieces in place, Insomniac found that it had created a terrifying new version of Venom, one who was brought to life convincingly by Todd's performance.

"For us, Venom is the host plus the symbiote," Intihar added. "You don't get Venom without both of them being bonded together. What Tony represents is that bond. I think, if anything, casting Tony made us feel more confident in the visual design of the character."

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will launch on October 20 for PlayStation 5, and fans can gain more insight into the game on Thursday, July 20, at the San Diego Comic-Con when Intihar, game director Ryan Smith, Paquette, and senior art director Jacinda Chew headline a "Symbiotic Relationships" panel.