Sony Pictures is not only rebooting the Spider-Man franchise, but is also planning a spinoff starring the villain Venom. That's according to The Hollywood Reporter, which has the scoop today on the film. The site reports that the film will be "apart from and unrelated to" the new Spidey movie starring Tom Holland.

　　Dante Harper (Edge of Tomorrow) has been hired to write the Venom script, while the film will be produced by Spider-Man series veterans Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, according to the report.

　　Venom the character, played by Topher Grace in Spider-Man 3, is an alien of sorts. He needs a human host to survive, giving his human superpowers in return. THR notes that Venom was at first a villain in the Spider-Man fiction, but became an anti-hero and almost a good guy.

　　There is no word yet on which version of Venom the new film would be based on.

　　The Venom movie has been in development for a long time, according to THR, with directors Gary Ross and Josh Trank among the directors who came and went. There is no word yet on who would direct the film, which actor would play the lead role, or when it will be released.

　　Another thing to note from THR's report is that Venom is apparently being eyed as the first in a franchise.

　　The Spider-Man reboot is scheduled to launch on July 7, 2017.