Venom

There's been some Spider-Man 3 news, and it's gone over big - I dare say just about everybody knows by now.

Sony revealed the first official artwork to promote the film, and it features Spider-Man in a black suit. Here he is.

Now, of course, this is a pretty clear indication that Venom is "in" the movie. That is to say, that the suit that facilitates all of the Venom plotlines is present. I think it'd be a mistake to assume this is the alien symbiote version of Venom - that doesn't fit with the tone and style of Raimi's previous Spider-Man films at all. The Ultimate Spider-Man version of events is much more audience friendly - and in keeping with the alleged casting of Topher Grace as Eddie Brock.

Two things are for sure, however. Firstly, that Avi Arad and the marketing folk at Sony know how to create one hell of an internet event; and secondly that Spider-Man 3 is going to be a fine, fine film. Raimi has come to master this stuff and the shooting script is once more written by Alvin Sargent. Cannot fail.