As a long time visitor and first time poster, I may be rushing in where angels fear to tread...but I felt compelled to clear my throat and "ahem" speak up for once. Bare with me as I have a couple of points. I have seen many posts across many threads comparing this franchise and others to the likes of Bond or Star Wars and Star Trek...all of which have enjoyed many, many sequels. Comparing box office in today's dollars this franchise would seem to have the legs for the additional sequels that are rumored. Now, as someone "in the entertainment industry," (and despite the many rebukes of the suggestion) I am still not convinced that there isn't a fourth in the works right now. Perhaps not a complete film...but at the very least significant portions...maybe in the same fashion that Donner put segments of Superman II in the can while working on the first film. For one thing...even if Raimi is making a massive epic, the time frame is big enough for creation of two - maybe two and half movies - the lead time on the flick is huge. That says something. Secondly, whether or not Raimi is putting two or one and a half movies in the can...money - BIG money - comes into play. There are many suits that pull many strings...but all are pulling toward the bottom line. Big villain equals big bucks to them. Also in the dollar column...the more of these flicks that are made and the more revenue they create...the more the stars salaries become inflated (and the director's as well). Venom's screen debut may come about as a means to several ends...characters (big salaried actors) departing and others (portrayed by lesser known i.e. 'cheaper' actors) appearing. With some 'creative' Hollywood writing...borrowing from one storyline while creating a totally new one (a patchwork almost unrecognizable to comic fans) it is possible to 're-invent' the franchise in order to generate additional revenue from future features that star an almost entirely new cast. Verbose...but I've been thinking about all this for some time. Okay...so that's my seven hundred and two cents.