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Spider-Man’s Absence in Venom Explained by Tom Holland

Sarah Parker July 30, 2026

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Tom Holland has been Spider-Man for a decade now, and despite spending that time bouncing around the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there was always another superhero world sitting tantalizingly close by. Sony spent years building out its own universe around characters connected to Spidey, beginning with Venom and eventually expanding to include Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter, and yet, Holland’s Peter Parker never properly crossed over into any of them.

That wasn’t because Holland was fighting to keep Spider-Man away. Appearing on Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz, the actor revealed that Sony did have plans to eventually merge the two worlds, but the right opportunity simply never materialised. When Horowitz asked whether Holland ever had to “take stands” against appearing in Sony’s other Marvel movies, Holland explained:

“To be perfectly honest, Tom Rothman is a really smart guy. They were building this universe and they had these plans to merge the worlds at some point, and I think that they just never found the right time to do so. I think it was on the cards, and there were never any battles of ‘We want you to be in this movie’ and ‘I don’t want to be in this movie’. That never happened.”

Holland added that Sony ultimately had confidence in what he, director Jon Watts, and Marvel Studios were already doing with Spider-Man, rather than forcing a crossover simply for the sake of making one happen.

“I think they thought one day this will happen and, like lots of things in the creative world, it just never came to fruition and I think we were feeling great confidence in my franchise, with Jon Watts and with the Marvel guys, and Tom and the Sony guys just wanted us to continue on our path. There were never any times where I was being forced into a movie I didn’t want to be in. That never happened.

Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Personality Quiz
Which Sci-Fi Hero Are You Most Like?
Paul Atreides · Captain Kirk · Princess Leia · Ellen Ripley · Max Rockatansky

Five iconic heroes. Five completely different ways of facing an impossible universe. One of them shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of refusing to back down. Eight questions will tell you which one.

Paul Atreides

Capt. Kirk

Princess Leia

Ellen Ripley

Max Rockatansky

FIND YOUR HERO →

How do you lead when the stakes couldn’t be higher?
The way you lead under pressure is the most honest thing about you.

AI absorb everything — every variable, every pattern — and move only when I know the path forward.
BI read the room, make the call, and own the consequences. Hesitation costs more than mistakes.
CI rally people. A cause needs a voice, and I refuse to let fear be louder than conviction.
DI assess the threat, establish what needs doing, and get it done without waiting for permission.
EI don’t lead. I act. Others can follow or not — I’m already moving.

NEXT QUESTION →

What is your greatest strength in a crisis?
The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails.

APrescience — the ability to see further ahead than anyone else and plan accordingly.
BImprovisation — I’m at my best when the plan falls apart and I have to invent a new one.
C I know what I’m fighting for, and that certainty doesn’t waver under fire.
D Composure — I stay functional when everyone around me is falling apart. Panic is a luxury.
E Endurance — I outlast things. I take the hit and keep moving long after others have stopped.

NEXT QUESTION →

What is the thing you’d sacrifice everything else for?
Your deepest motivation is your truest compass.

A The survival and dignity of my people — even if I have to become something frightening to ensure it.
B The safety of my crew — every single one of them. No one gets left behind.
C Freedom — for my people, for every world still crushed under the weight of an empire.
D The truth — what actually happened, what’s actually out there, whether anyone believes me or not.
E The one person — or the one memory — that still makes any of this worth surviving for.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you relate to the people around you?
Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are.

A A A
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA

NEXT QUESTION →

You’re facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do?

How you respond when you’re the only one who sees it defines everything.

Prepare in silence. If they won’t listen, I’ll be ready when they finally have to.

Keep pushing until someone listens — and if no one does, handle it myself.

Build the case, find the allies, and make the threat impossible to ignore.

Document everything. The truth matters even if no one believes it yet.

Stop trying to convince anyone. Survive it. That’s the only argument that counts.

<LABEL CLASS=""qcbtnnext"" FOR=""s6"" NEXT QUESTION →

<p06

<spanclass=cqqquestiontextWhat has your heroism cost you personally?

<spanclass=cqqquestionsubEvery hero pays. The question is what — and whether they'd pay it again.

<labelclass=qcoutionbtnfor=cqqqa

<spanclass=qcoutionletterAMy innocence — I've seen what I'm capable of, and I can't unsee it.

<labelclass=qcoutionbtnfor=cqqqb

<spanclass=qcoutionletterBPeople I loved — the command chair has a view but it's a lonely one.

<labelclass=qcoutionbtnfor=cqqqc

<spanclass=qcoutionletterCA normal life — I gave up everything ordinary the moment I chose the cause.

<labelclass=qcoutionbtnfor=cqqqd

<spanclass=qcoutionletterDMy sense of safety — I know exactly what's out there now, and I can't pretend otherwise.

<labelclass=qcoutionbtnfor=cqqqe

<spanclass=qcoutionletterEAlmost everything — I'm still not sure what I'm carrying it all for. But I keep going.

labelclass=qcbtntxtfor=s7NEXT QUESTION →

pHow do you feel about rules of world you're in?

pEvery hero has a relationship with system What's yours?

pI understand them deeply — know exactly which ones must be broken why.

pI respect spirit them bend letter when situation demands it.

pThe system problem I'm not here work within here dismantle it.

pI follow protocol until protocol stops being useful then make call myself.

pRules collapsed long time ago What's left instinct mine reliable.

p labelclass=qcbtntxtfor=s8NEXT QUESTION →

pWhen everything on line what keeps going?

pAnswer most honest thing about you.

pDestiny or something feels much like difference no longer matters.

pPeople on ship their faces trust fact they're counting me.

pBelief we're fighting worth every sacrifice including this one.

pSheer refusal let win whatever it is don't stop That's just who am.

pI'm not sure anymore But road still there still on it.

p labelclass=qcbtntxtfor=sRREVEAL MY HERO →

results

Your Hero Has Been Identified

Your Sci-Fi Hero Is…

Your answers point iconic sci-fi hero who shares instincts values particular way facing impossible.

<spanclass=cqbade stylebackground:#c8960c;

<spanclass=cqrresultcardbannertextstylecolor:#c8960c;Arrakis · Dune

<spanclass=cqrresultcardtitle stylebackgroundlinear-gradient(135deg,#fff40%,#c8960c);webkit-background-clip:text;-webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;backgroundclip:text;Paul Atreides

You carry weight most people would crumble under knowledge you’re capable burden what might have become.

You see further ahead than others plan accordingly even when vision frightens you.

You are driven loyalty your people sense destiny didn’t ask but can’t escape.

Paul Atreides not simply hero he someone understands cost power chooses bear anyway.

That gravity willingness carry what others won’t exactly you.

<spanclass=cqbade stylebackground:#f4c842;

<spanclass=cqrresultcardbannertextstylecolor:#f4c842;USS Enterprise · Star Trek

<spanclass=cqrresultcardtitle stylebackgroundlinear-gradient(135deg,#fff40%,#f4c842);webkit-background-clip:text;-webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;backgroundclip:text;Captain Kirk

You lead instinct warmth absolute refusal accept no-win scenario because you’ve always believed there’s third option nobody else thought yet.

You take mission seriously without ever taking yourself too seriously.

Your crew would follow anywhere not because demand but because you’ve earned.

Kirk’s genius isn’t tactical it’s human He reads people bends rules purpose wills outcomes existence sheer conviction.

This combination warmth audacity relentless optimism unmistakably yours.

<spanclass=cqbade stylebackground:#c084fc;

<spanclass=cqrresultcardbannertextstylecolor:#c084fc;The Rebellion · Star Wars

<spanclass=cqrresultcardtitle stylebackgroundlinear-gradient(135deg,#fff40%,#c084fc);webkit-background-clip:text;-webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;backgroundclip:text;Princess Leia

You are kind person holds line when everyone else losing faith not because you’re fearless but because giving up simply isn’t something you’re capable of.

You lead through conviction Your voice carries because your belief unshakeable.

You gave up everything ordinary moment chose cause you’ve never looked back.

Leia not supporting character her own story she moral centre entire rebellion.

This same fierce principled unbreakable core defines you.

<spanclass=cqbade stylebackground:#4ade80;

<spanclass=cqrresultcardbannertextstylecolor:#4ade80;The Nostromo · Alien

<spanclass=cqrresultcardtitle stylebackgroundlinear-gradient(135deg,#fff40%,#4ade80);webkit-background-clip:text;-webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;backgroundclip:text;Ellen Ripley

You are not reckless grandiose particularly interested being anyone’s hero just refuse stop when matters.

You see threats clearly document truth even when no one listens time comes handle yourself.

Ripley’s heroism earned not performed She doesn’t have speech she has flamethrower plan.

You share her composure under worst possible pressure refusal pretend monster isn’t there.

This counts don’t flinch That’s everything.

<span-class-cqbade style-background:#f97316;

<span-class-cqr-result-card-banner-text style-color:#f97316;The Wasteland · Mad Max

<span-class-cqr-result-card-title style-background-linear-gradient(135deg,#fff40%,#f97316);webkit-background-clipping:text;-webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;background-clipping:text;Max Rockatansky

You have been through fire would break most people what came out other side something world underestimates peril.

You don’t ask help need validation wait anyone tell rules longer apply.

Your loyalty finally arrives absolute but earned silence tested action not words.

Max not nihilist He someone lost everything found against will still has something worth protecting.

This bruised stubborn ultimately human core exactly yours.