Sony Studios is known quite well for consistently rolling out blockbuster flicks, launching various franchises in the process. Unfortunately, the studio has struggled to assemble a cohesive cinematic universe for its ever-expanding catalog of titles. Sony tried with their Marvel properties, as well as with the rebranded MIB: International, and yet, neither has resonated with audiences. Maybe the solution lies in a crossover. Hear us out.
Currently, Sony owns the rights to both the Men In Black franchise, and the Venom-centric corner of the Marvel universe. That alone makes a crossover possible. While a collaboration between the two might seem preposterous, it wouldn't be the first instance of a character akin to Venom interacting with an MIB mainstay.
In Episode 7 of Season 1 of the Men In Black animated series, Agent J gets tasked with transporting an alien refugee to a secure location—quite similar to a popular Marvel antihero. The pair embark on a metaphorical road trip across a desert landscape, bonding along the way—does this sound familiar? Agent J and his symbiote go through experiences that mirror Eddie Brock's adventures with his alien companion. This brings us back to the crossover potential.
Sony could greatly benefit from intermingling these separate properties, and there's no time like the present. With Venom: The Last Dance concluding on a note that implies a Klyntar invasion is coming, that'll warrant a specialized military force answering the call. The problem, however, lies in how the Sony universe currently lacks a clandestine organization like SHIELD or the Avengers to address those types of concerns.
Why The Men In Black Are Perfectly Suited For A Crossover
Because of that, a more grounded faction like the Men In Black work perfectly. They're the most conceivable alternative to the Avengers or X-Men showing up out of the blue. One can argue that the universe's other symbiotes might step up to save the planet. However, given that they've never seen superpowered vigilantes work together to stop a larger threat, they might not possess the altruistic tendencies of a group like the Avengers. Those superhero groups inspire others to step up—without them, though, vigilantes aren't as inclined to be heroic.
The Men In Black, on the other hand, can enter the sci-fi realm similar to how Marvel introduced SHIELD to the cinematic universe. Marvel Studios started them out as government agents responding to unusual threats, then finally named the group upon Thor's discovery. MIB has followed a similar progression in the movies.
In all fairness, the organizations are practically parallels to one another. Considering that both are government-run agencies, dealing in covert alien affairs, often partnering with unorthodox allies, and their primary objective is ensuring the safety of humanity, they're almost identical. They even sport G-Man suits, too.
How MIB Can Fill SHIELD's Role In The Sony-Verse
The pressing question is whether Sony gambles on intertwining two of its most lucrative franchises. Plans may already be underway to resurrect Eddie's gooey pal for a fourth outing, especially considering the ending to The Last Dance teased the Mercury Team's introduction.
During the final moments, Juno Temple's character bonded with the purple symbiote known as Agony, walking off alongside Dr. Christmas in the end. Similarly, the amputee soldier who appears in the final act is rumored to become Sony's version of Flash Thompson; he goes on to become Agent Venom in the comics.
Reasonably speaking, the studio wouldn't lay the groundwork for headliners like Agony or Agent Venom if their returns weren't already planned. There's a considerable investment in those characters, making it financially unwise to neglect them at this point. Sony has presumably begun casting calls for Agent Venom—if they haven't already. They've had the writers work out the convoluted plot points that'll make it possible for Eddie's symbiote to return and find Flash Thompson. Agent Venom is essentially a blend of The Punisher, Spider-Man, and Peter Parker's alien counterpart, making it clear why he will be a thrilling addition on the big screen.
While the plot potential is strong, it's still a question of marketing plans. The Men In Black can join the universe as explained above, but in the scenario of Sony developing another standalone movie, a crossover elsewhere would be out of the cards. In all likelihood, though, another entry won't happen. MIB: International was released in 2019, and there are no official plans for a new film at the moment. That's why a Venom crossover is the best possible route to take. There aren't any current plans for the Marvel-centric universe either, so why not solve two problems simultaneously?