Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for “Venom.”
If you head to theaters to see “Venom” this weekend, make sure you stay until the very end of the film.
There are two extra scenes after the movie. One of them is just a teaser for another Sony movie out later this year, but it’s the first one that teases a fan-favorite that we really would like to see more of in another movie.
In case you left early or were perplexed by the surprise cameo, we have you covered.
The first end-credit scene
What Happens
The shot opens up on the San Quentin prison. Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock is riding his motorcycle up to the entrance. As he pulls up, he can be heard having a conversation with Venom.
"I need you to stay quiet," Brock tells Venom. "This is a me thing. Not a 'we' thing."
"Fine, but make it quick," the parasite relents.
Brock then walks down a corridor inside the prison where he receives instructions from a guard. He's told the FBI will have to identify him if he doesn't "follow the rules."
He is then allowed inside a special prison cell sealed off from other areas. Inside is another cage holding a man. The camera zooms in to focus on the words "Welcome, Eddie," which appear to be written in blood inside the cage.
When the prisoner shows his face it's Woody Harrelson in a curly, bright red wig.
"Tough to see you in this light, Eddie. Come on over," says Harrelson's mystery character.
The two exchange a few words before Harrelson reveals the fan favorite he's playing.
"When I get out of here, and I will, there's gonna be carnage," says Harrelson.
What it means
Who is Harrelson's character?
If the last line delivered by Harrelson in the end-credits scene didn't tip you off, then his name in the credits should offer a big clue about his identity. In the movie's credits, Harrelson is listed as playing Cletus Kasady. In the comics, that's the name of a serial killer who becomes Spider-Man villain, Carnage.
Carnage, like Venom, is another symbiote who bonds with a human. Unlike Venom, Carnage is known for his blood red signature color. The character has also fought with Deadpool before in the comics.
When compared to Spidey and Venom, Carnage is stronger than either of them.
What this means for any potential sequel
After a series of poor reviews, we're holding our breath about any follow-ups, but "Venom" teases the franchise's next big villain. Brock visiting Kasady shouldn't have been a surprise. In the comics, Carnage and Venom are arch-enemies.
While at a New York Comic Con party for "Venom," aptly titled "Brisk x Venom", INSIDER spotted a notebook, that presumably belongs to Brock, featuring notes on Kasady. It was pretty revealing.
It's noted that Kasady killed his grandmother and went on a "huge massacre" in New York City. He's described as having "an insane mind and a lust for destruction." Similar to the comics, he's described as an orphan.
The scene doesn't make it clear, but I'm guessing Kasady isn't infected with the Carnage symbiote yet. Why? Because he probably wouldn't be trapped in that cell for long if he could easily break out. That could lead to seeing more of Venom's alien friends on screen.
I mentioned the above comic series from 2004, "Venom vs. Carnage," because it involved the two alien symbiotes having an alien child named Toxin.
The second end-credit scene
The second scene starts off with a title card reading, "Meanwhile, in another universe..."
We then see an animated, younger kid in a homemade Spider-Man costume outrunning a villain. He eventually goes to a grave for Peter Parker, the main Spider-Man we see in every movie iteration. The grave reads that he lived from 1991-2018.
"I can't say this without you," says the kid as a man, who looks like the real Spider-Man comes up behind him.
The kid knocks out Spidey, but before he can escape cops arrive on the scene. Stuck to Spider-Man's web, the kid picks up the presumed passed out Parker and swings through New York City with him before the two come crash landing on a street.
What is this all about?
This is just an extended scene for Sony's animated "Spider-Man" movie out in December. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" will follow the adventures of Miles Morales who takes over the mantle of Spider-Man after its believed Peter Parker is dead. Spoiler from the trailers: He's not.
The movie will include a bunch of Spidey characters from the Marvel universe, including Spider-Ham (John Mulaney), Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), and Spidey Noir (Nicolas Cage).
"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" will be in theaters Friday, December 14, 2018.
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