Shortly after releasing a sneak peek of their upcoming big-budget comic book sequel, Sony Pictures has once again put their foot down and decided to delay the theatrical release of Venom: Let There Be Carnage due to concerns over the delta variant of COVID-19. Starring Tom Hardy in the titular role, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris, and Stephen Graham, this sequel to the 2018 success is a sure ticket for Sony’s aspirations to have a box office smash. It’s been delayed several times throughout the pandemic, so it should come as no surprise,

The first film was a surprise success, grossing $855 million worldwide. The movie theater business has taken a huge plunge since then, with many surefire hits like Tenet and Space Jam: A New Legacy losing out on massive numbers due to the last year and a half of quarantine and social distancing. As reported by Variety, according to a National Research Group survey, 67% of moviegoers say they’re “very or somewhat comfortable” visiting their local cinema, which is a slightly lower percentage than the week before, and a big dip from a month ago.

Andy Serkis, similar to Hardy’s talents (see The Dark Knight Rises, Bronson, and perhaps the first Venom film), is known for his shape-shifting roles as an actor, particularly the iconic Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He had directed one film prior to this, a romantic drama titled Breathe, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, proving his abilities as a “serious” director. We’ll see if his playful essence will translate into a successful comic book movie. The Venom sequel is set to premiere on October 15th.