“Rogue One” star Riz Ahmed is in early talks to join Tom Hardy in Sony’s “Venom.”

Ahmed will play a familiar character in the Marvel Universe. Variety first reported the news of Ahmed’s talks and TheWrap confirmed the details.

Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland”) is set to direct. “Venom” will be released on Oct. 5, 2018 with a production start date of fall 2017.

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“Venom” is from Sony’s Marvel Universe of characters. (The studio says it is not a “Spider-Man” spinoff, as other news outlets have reported).

Venom is one of the most popular superheroes in the Marvel Universe and dates back to the 1980s when Spider-Man briefly adopted a black costume which later turned out to be a living alien being. Photographer Eddie Brock was able to merge with it and become the horrifying, sharp-fanged Venom. Brock was played by Topher Grace in “Spider-Man 3.”

Throughout the history of Marvel Comics, “Venom” has appeared alongside “Spider-Man,” “Iron Man,” “Deadpool,” “Hulk” and many other Marvel Comics characters.

Also Read: Tom Hardy to Star as 'Venom' for Sony, Ruben Fleischer Set to Direct

Tom Hardy is a huge fan of Venom and has a strikingly similar look to the original comic’s depiction of Eddie Brock.

Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are producing along with Amy Pascal.

Palak Patel and Eric Fineman overseeing for Columbia Pictures.

“Venom” marks Fleischer’s first major tentpole film since signing with CAA last year. Fleischer is also currently developing a sequel to “Zombieland.”