In a whirlwind of speculation that’s set Marvel fandom ablaze, whispers from industry insiders suggest that Reacher star Alan Ritchson is in serious discussions to step into the iconic black suit as Eddie Brock in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The buzz, gaining traction in late 2025, points to a bold franchise reset for Venom ahead of the highly anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars, where Ritchson’s hulking, intense version of the anti-hero could finally cross paths with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in ways that promise to shock longtime fans. While nothing is official yet, the excitement is palpable—social media is flooded with fan art, comparisons, and debates, as enthusiasts hail this potential casting as the “new Venom” they’ve been craving.

Tom Hardy’s gritty, chaotic take on Eddie Brock defined Sony’s standalone Venom trilogy, culminating in Venom: The Last Dance and leaving a symbiote residue in the MCU via a post-credits tease. But with Hardy’s era seemingly concluded, Marvel Studios appears ready to integrate the character fully into its sprawling universe. Avengers: Secret Wars, slated as the epic conclusion to the Multiverse Saga, is rumored to serve as the perfect launchpad for a rebooted Venom—one unburdened by Sony’s separate continuity and primed for deeper ties to Spider-Man and the broader Avengers roster.

Enter Alan Ritchson, the 6’2″, 235-pound powerhouse who’s exploded into stardom as Jack Reacher on Prime Video. His imposing physique, chiseled features, and ability to blend brooding intensity with unexpected vulnerability make him a near-perfect match for the classic comic book Eddie Brock: a disgraced journalist turned hulking host to an alien symbiote. Fans have long championed Ritchson for the role, citing his comic-accurate build—far more aligned with the muscular, blonde Brock of the pages than Hardy’s leaner, darker interpretation. Recent endorsements have only fueled the fire, including high praise from Venom co-creator David Michelinie himself, who reportedly singled out Ritchson as his ideal choice, sharing old posts of the actor shirtless and mid-roar as proof of the fit.

The timing couldn’t be more intriguing. With Venom: The Last Dance wrapping Hardy’s arc and Sony shifting focus to Spider-Man-centric projects like animated sequels and live-action spinoffs, Marvel is said to be eyeing a clean slate. Insider chatter hints at early talks positioning Ritchson for a post-Secret Wars introduction, potentially as a variant Eddie Brock emerging from the multiversal chaos. This reset would allow Venom to evolve from lone anti-hero to a complex figure in the MCU—perhaps starting as a menacing foil before grappling with redemption arcs that echo his comic history.

What has fans truly shocked, however, are the teases of how this new Venom might interact with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. No longer confined to fleeting cameos or separate universes, rumors suggest a direct, groundbreaking confrontation: Ritchson’s Eddie could bond with a symbiote fragment left behind in the MCU, leading to a visceral, physically dominant clash with Spider-Man that’s been dreamed of since the black suit saga. Imagine the web-slinger facing a Venom who’s not just chaotic and quippy, but overwhelmingly brute—Ritchson’s raw power amplifying the symbiote’s rage in sequences that pit agility against sheer force. Some speculate a twist where the symbiote tempts Peter again during Secret Wars‘ reality-warping battles, only to fully manifest with Brock as host, creating moral dilemmas and alliances no one anticipated.

This potential pairing has sparked endless debate. Holland’s youthful, earnest Spider-Man versus Ritchson’s grizzled, towering Brock promises a dynamic unseen in prior iterations—less buddy-comedy chaos, more primal threat with underlying humanity. Fans point to Ritchson’s proven action chops in Reacher, where he dismantles foes with brutal efficiency, as ideal for Venom’s tendril-whipping, wall-crawling mayhem. His dramatic range, seen in quieter moments of vulnerability, could explore Eddie’s fractured psyche: the journalist’s fall from grace, the symbiote’s corrupting whisper, and the eternal struggle for control.

The idea of a “full franchise reset” ties neatly into Secret Wars‘ multiversal stakes. The film, drawing from the iconic 1984-85 comic event (and its 2015 sequel), is expected to mash realities, introducing variants and reshaping the MCU landscape. A new Venom emerging here would symbolize that rebirth—free from Sony’s constraints, integrated with Avengers threats like Doctor Doom, and setting up solo films or team-ups. Whispers even suggest Knull, the symbiote god teased in Hardy’s trilogy, could loom as a larger villain, forcing unlikely alliances between Spider-Man, this reinvented Venom, and Earth’s mightiest heroes.

Ritchson’s rising star status makes him a savvy choice. Beyond Reacher‘s massive success, he’s flexed in blockbusters like Fast X and voiced interest in superhero roles, though he’s publicly eyed DC’s Batman. Landing Venom would catapult him into Marvel’s A-list, offering a “messier” anti-hero part he craves—one blending physical dominance with emotional depth. Comic purists rejoice at the fidelity: Ritchson’s blonde hair, massive frame, and intense glare evoke the Lethal Protector era, where Venom shifts from villain to reluctant guardian.

Fan reaction has been electric. Online forums buzz with mock-ups of Ritchson in the suit, comparisons to classic covers, and excitement over a more comic-accurate take. “This is the Venom we’ve waited for—big, scary, and ready to tangle with Spidey properly,” one viral post declares. Skeptics worry about recasting a beloved character, but most agree the multiverse provides cover, allowing Hardy’s version to coexist as a variant while this new one carves its path.

As Avengers: Secret Wars ramps up production, Marvel’s secrecy fuels the frenzy. If these reports hold, Ritchson’s Venom could redefine the character for a new generation—darker, more imposing, and poised for epic showdowns with Holland’s wall-crawler that flip expectations. A symbiotic clash of titans, born from multiversal madness, with twists that promise to leave audiences reeling.

Whether it’s a full-on rivalry, forced team-up against greater evils, or something wildly unforeseen, one thing’s clear: if Alan Ritchson becomes the new Eddie Brock, the MCU’s Spider-Man saga is about to get a whole lot deadlier—and infinitely more exciting.