Knull, the presumed arch-villain ofSony’s Spider-Man Universe, could have been a lot more terrifying inVenom: The Last Danceif he looked a little more similar to the recently revealed concept art. Knull is the eldritch god of darkness and one ofMarvel’s most genuinely terrifying villainsin both appearance and power. Unfortunately, he remained off-screen for most of the movie - though audiences were granted a slightly clearer look at Andy Serkis' villain in thepost-credits scene forVenom: The Last Dance, which also teased his return in the future.
Concept artist Karl Lindberg recently unveiled original concept art for Knull onArtStation(shared byTheVenomSiteon X), proving that his face reveal atthe end ofVenom: The Last Dancecould have been a lot more terrifying. The art introduces a lot more red to Knull’s color scheme as he sits on a throne that evokes the threatening hues of the Carnage symbiote. Given his face was heavily obscured inVenom: The Last Dance, it’s hard to say whether it closely resembles the concept art - but he will be a horrifying addition to the SSU if so.
What The Knull Concept Art Means For Venom: The Last Dance
Knull Looks Slightly More Comic Accurate In The Concept Art Save For One Omission
The concept art for Knull looks slightly more comic-accuratethan what was used in live-action. It is difficult to say for sure whether Sony’s Knull wields a red version of the misleadingly named All-Black the Necrosword, but there is very little color used in the shots in which he and his sword feature on Klyntar aside from a couple of orange glints (including in Knull’s eyes at the very end) and pale blue lighting. This may have been a somewhat wise design choice on Sony’s part to emphasizeKnull’s abyssal origins.
A version of All-Black the Necrosword was also wielded by Gorr the God Butcher inThor: Love and Thunder, though it remains unclear whether Marvel and Sony are sharing this particular artifact between Gorr and Knull.
The distinct crimson symbol typically emblazoned on Knull’s chest is notably absent in the concept art, replaced by somewhat nondescript red highlights. He shares this feature - or lack thereof - with Venom. The fact Venom does not sport a spider symbol in live-action is due to having no association with Spider-Man, whereas Knull’s symbol is supposed to resemble a dragon, which were two of the first symbiotes he created. This might suggest that Sony is sidestepping Knull’s dragons entirely. Alternatively, the studio may also wish to avoid any allusions to Spider-Man as Knull’s symbol appears spider-like.
Our Take On The Knull Concept Art
Apart from the dragon symbol, Lindberg’s concept art strikes all the right notes with Knull. Knull’s horrifying visage is exactly why I’ve been so eager to see him in live-action, and it’s safe to say that Lindberg’s concept delivers. Still,it’s hard to compare what is seen in this art with what we ended up seeinginVenom: The Last Danceas Serkis' villainous debut was so heavily obscured. With that in mind, I remain optimistic this concept art will befaithfully adapted when Knull returnsas a formidable arch-villain down the line.
Venom: The Last Dance
Cast
Venom: The Last Dance is a film directed by an undisclosed director, featuring the character Venom in a thrilling narrative. The movie explores the alien symbiote’s latest challenges and transformations as it navigates through a world full of danger and new adversaries.
