Venom Co-Creator Says This Actor Would Be the “Perfect” Live-Action Eddie Brock

Fan casting debates have become one of the most enduring pastimes in comic book fandom, with every actor’s name eventually getting tossed into the ring for one iconic role or another. But when the person doing the casting happens to be the one who actually created the character, that speculation carries a little extra weight.

That’s exactly what’s fueling renewed buzz around Eddie Brock’s future, as the character remains in limbo following Tom Hardy’s exit from the role after ‘Venom: The Last Dance.’ With Sony’s Spider-Man universe currently in flux and no clear direction announced for the symbiote antihero, fans have been left to speculate about who might eventually step into the role.

That speculation got a notable boost when Venom co-creator David Michelinie weighed in with his own pick. In a post on X, content creator TheDoctorX11 shared that he’d asked Michelinie directly which actor would make a faithful live-action Eddie Brock, floating the name of ‘Reacher’ star Alan Ritchson.

Michelinie’s response left little room for doubt about where he stood. “I once posted pics of Ritchson—shirtless and one of him yelling—and said he’d make the perfect Eddie/Venom. So we’re on the same page,” Michelinie said in a post shared by TheDoctorX11 on X.

According to Michelinie, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment endorsement, either. He revealed that he’d previously shared images of Ritchson online, specifically highlighting a shirtless photo and one of the actor mid-yell, as evidence that Ritchson already had the physical presence and intensity to embody the character. That kind of specific, image-based reasoning suggests Michelinie has been thinking about this particular casting idea for some time.

Eddie Brock has had a long history on screen, with Topher Grace originating the role in Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man 3’ before Hardy took over the character for Sony’s standalone ‘Venom’ trilogy. With that franchise’s future uncertain and no official plans announced for a recast, fans have been left to fill the void with their own theories about who could take on the symbiote-bonded antihero next.

Ritchson’s name isn’t new to superhero casting conversations, either. The actor has been a persistent fan favorite for DC’s Batman as well, and has previously spoken about his own interest in eventually joining James Gunn’s DC Universe. Having both fans and now an original comic book creator championing him for major roles only adds fuel to that ongoing conversation.

Whether Michelinie’s endorsement carries any real weight with Sony or Marvel Studios remains to be seen, since comic creators typically don’t have casting influence over the films based on their characters. Still, it’s a notable vote of confidence from someone who understands Eddie Brock’s comic book roots better than almost anyone else in the industry.

For now, Venom’s future in live-action remains an open question, with Sony reportedly focused on its Spider-Man-centric slate rather than reviving the character in the near term. Given how much attention this kind of fan-casting chatter tends to generate, though, don’t be surprised if Ritchson’s name keeps coming up every time the conversation turns to Eddie Brock’s next chapter.

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