Tom Hardy’s final outing as Eddie Brock brings the Venom trilogy to a close with its biggest collection of symbiotes yet. While previous films kept its symbiote cast relatively small—Riot in the first movie, Carnage in the second—The Last Dance introduces us to a whole host of these alien monsters. That said, it can be hard to keep track of who’s who from the comics, so we’re rounding up every confirmed and presumed symbiote in Venom 3 up ahead. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Venom: The Last Dance.
Related: Venom: The Last Dance Might’ve Set Up Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 Movie
Hidden away in a secret government facility called Area 55, the symbiotes in Venom 3 become unexpected allies when ancient threat Knull sends his terrifying Xenophage hunters after Eddie and Venom. While many of these symbiotes meet swift ends in the ensuing battle, they each play an important role in helping our favorite lethal protector defend Earth from Knull’s invasion.
What makes this final installment in the Venom series especially exciting for Marvel fans is how it brings several classic symbiotes from the comics to live action for the first time. From the lightning-powered Agony to the weapon-wielding Lasher, each new symbiote brings something unique to the screen. Let’s break down every major symbiote that appears in this action-packed finale up ahead.
Every symbiote in Venom: The Last Dance
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Venom
Image Credit: Marvel / © Sony Pictures Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection. Our familiar anti-hero returns as the story’s central symbiote. When the movie begins, Eddie and Venom have been bonded for over a year, having faced off against both Riot and Carnage in previous films. This time, they’re running from both law enforcement and Knull’s deadly Xenophage hunters, who are after a special codex formed when Venom first revived Eddie. In the film’s climax, Venom makes what appears to be the ultimate sacrifice, merging with the Xenophages to destroy the codex and halt Knull’s plans.
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Agony
Image Credit: © Marvel / © Sony Pictures Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection. In perhaps the film’s most memorable new symbiote appearance, Dr. Teddy Payne (Juno Temple) bonds with Agony, a pink-and-blue symbiote. This version comes with an interesting twist—instead of its acid-spitting powers from the comics, this Agony possesses super-speed and lightning abilities, tied to Payne’s backstory of being struck by lightning as a teenager. In the comics, Agony was originally one of the Life Foundation symbiotes and recently had a stint with the Thunderbolts.
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Toxin/Teal Symbiote
Image Credit: © Marvel / © Sony Pictures Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection. Detective Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham) returns, but not quite as fans expected. While the end of “Let There Be Carnage” suggested he would become Toxin (Carnage’s offspring in the comics), this film reveals that original symbiote left him for dead. Instead, he bonds with a new teal, serpent-like symbiote at Area 55 under Dr. Payne’s supervision. Through this bond, Mulligan provides crucial exposition about Knull before meeting his end during the first Xenophage attack.
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Lasher
Image Credit: © Marvel / © Sony Pictures Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection. Dr. Sadie Christmas (Clark Backo) bonds with what appears to be Lasher, recognizable by its red-and-green coloring. True to its comic book origins, this symbiote can create sharp weapons from its arms. Interestingly, in recent comics (2019’s “Absolute Carnage”), one of Lasher’s hosts was also named Sadie, making this casting particularly fitting.
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Phage
During the Area 55 battle, a yellowish-orange symbiote bonds with a security guard named Jim after he’s injured by a Xenophage. While unnamed in the film, this symbiote’s appearance matches Phage from the comics, another of the original Life Foundation symbiotes known for creating deadly bladed weapons. The symbiote meets its end when Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) launches a rocket during the Xenophage attack.
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Scream
Though brief, a red-and-yellow symbiote appears with fire-based powers, likely representing Scream. This is a significant departure from the comics, where Scream was known for her deadly hair tendrils rather than fire powers (especially since symbiotes are typically vulnerable to fire). In the film, this symbiote bonds with a female scientist before falling to a Xenophage.
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Two-Headed Symbiote
During the chaos at Area 55, two hosts bond with symbiotes that merge to create a unique two-headed creature. While this might be a nod to the comics’ Hybrid (which was a merger of multiple Life Foundation symbiotes), it appears to be a creation specific to the film.
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Knull
Image Credit: Courtesy of Marvel/Sony Pictures. Voiced by Andy Serkis, Knull appears as the film’s primary antagonist. As the ancient creator of the symbiotes, he seeks the codex within Eddie’s symbiote to free himself from imprisonment. Originally introduced in Marvel Comics in 2018, Knull is a primordial god who detests light and life, having waged wars against cosmic beings like the Silver Surfer. The symbiotes eventually rebelled against their creator and imprisoned him, though he maintains influence through their hive mind.
