Knull Creators Surprised by Character’s Inclusion in ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ – Plan to Seek Compensation

The final trailer for Venom: The Last Dance has just been released, marking a significant moment for several reasons. Not only is it the concluding chapter in the trilogy, but it also introduces one of Marvel Comics’ most fearsome and powerful villains—Knull, the King in Black.

Although Knull is a relatively “new” addition to the Marvel universe, he quickly rose to prominence as the greatest threat any symbiote could encounter, making him a perfect choice for the film’s villain.

Fans had mixed reactions to the announcement, largely due to Sony’s history of struggling with comic book adaptations. Many are concerned that Knull, a powerful villain in the comics, hasn’t had a proper build-up in the cinematic universe and may be significantly “nerfed” to make it plausible for Eddie Brock and Venom to defeat him in the film.

The surprise wasn’t limited to fans—Knull’s creators, Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, were also shocked to see their character in the trailer. Now that they’ve learned of his inclusion, they are seeking compensation, as they were reportedly not paid for the use of their creation.

Knull first appeared in Venom Vol. 4 #3 (2018), following a subtle nod to an unnamed entity in Thor: God of Thunder #6. He was later referenced in several issues of Web of Venom, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the War of the Realms event before becoming the main antagonist in Donny Cates’ Silver Surfer: Black #1.

Knull returned as the primary antagonist in King in Black, which centers on his invasion of Earth with his symbiote army—a storyline that Sony seems to be adapting for the upcoming movie.

Ryan Stegman, co-creator of Knull, took to social media to express his surprise at the character’s inclusion, stating that while he had no prior knowledge of it, he expects to be compensated.

Cates responded by posting an inverted Venom logo that cleverly spells out “Money.”

If you’re curious how the two key creators behind Knull could be left out of this deal, it’s a reflection of the longstanding unfair treatment of artists and writers within the industry.

Most comic book creators work under “work-for-hire” contracts, meaning that the company (Marvel, DC, etc.) retains ownership of any characters or stories created during their employment. This gives the company control over the intellectual property, allowing them to use these characters in various media, including films, without having to share profits with the original creators.

Jim Starlin famously had to fight Disney to receive compensation for using Thanos in the Avengers franchise, a character he created.

Even when a writer or artist invents a new character, the rights typically remain with the company. As a result, when these characters appear in movies, the company profits, not the creators. While some creators manage to negotiate bonuses or residuals for future use, this is uncommon and usually minimal, depending on individual contracts with publishers or studios.

Stegman and Cates may find better success capitalizing on Knull’s rising popularity and monetizing that, but one major issue stands out: Sony didn’t consult the original creators at all in making the movie. This could give fans an idea of how they plan to handle the adaptation.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!