'Venom' spoilers: Tom Hardy confirms movie's source material

Spider-Man as the Venom symbiote's host in "Spider-Man 3"Columbia Pictures

Tom Hardy may have been absent in Sony's special presentation at Brazil's Comic-Con Experience, but he left a present for the fans in attendance in the form of a recorded message with a few details including the source material of his upcoming movie "Venom."

From the movie's set in Atlanta, Georgia, Hardy, who will portray the main character Eddie Brock, revealed the movie will be based on the "Lethal Protector" comic book series.

"Lethal Protector" is a six-volume series created by David Michelinie and Mark Bagley, which was released in 1993. According to Digital Spy, it kicked off with Eddie Brock, the host of the Venom symbiote, agreeing to a truce with Spider-Man and moving to San Francisco, which Hardy also confirmed in the message to be the setting of the film. However, trouble followed him there when the organization Life Foundation hunted him down for his symbiote, later creating their own horrific spawns called Scream, Phage, Riot, Lasher, and Agony.

While "Venom" is not a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hardy said the movie will be important to the Marvel universe as a whole. He also promised to bring justice to Venom's character.

Apart from the actor, "Venom's" other castings have been kept largely under wraps. However, Screen Rant says the film is expected to feature Riz Ahmed as the primary antagonist Carnage. One of Marvel's most brutal villains, the character was once Cletus Kasady, a psychotic serial killer, until he donned the alien symbiote.

"Gifted" actress Jenny Slate and "Manchester by the Sea" star Michelle Williams are also on board for undisclosed roles.

"Venom" is already in production for an Oct. 5, 2018 release. "Zombieland" director Ruben Fleischer is at the helm, while "Fifty Shades of Grey" scriptwriter Kelly Marcel, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg ("Jumanji") are all signed up for writing duties.