UPDATE, August 5:

Andy Serkis is set to direct Tom Hardy in Venom 2 for Sony Pictures. The actor-filmmaker confirmed his hiring today via Twitter

"It’s happening. The Symbiote has found a host in me and I’m ready for the ride...Can’t wait! #venom #venom2 #marvel"Serkis had been among a group of contenders -- including Rupert Wyatt and Travis Knight -- who were under consideration to helm the sequel. That original report follows.

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Every Spider-Man Movie Spin-Off in Development 15 IMAGES

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With the original film's director, Ruben Fleischer, not returning to helm the sequel, Sony is considering actor-filmmaker Andy Serkis to direct Venom 2.Serkis -- who rose to fame for his performance-capture portrayals of Lord of the Rings' Gollum, Planet of the Apes' Caesar, Star Wars' Supreme Leader Snoke, and King Kong -- is reportedly among the candidates being eyed to direct the sequel, which Sony hopes to have start filming this November."Serkis flew to Los Angeles for meetings set by Sony brass earlier this week. He is one of several filmmakers in the mix, sources say," according to The Hollywood Reporter As a director, Serkis helmed the Andrew Garfield-Claire Foy drama Breathe as well as Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle , a more mature retelling of The Jungle Book that Netflix picked up after it was dropped by Warner Bros.With his background in both acting and making effects-heavy films, Serkis is in line with what Sony needs in a director for the sequel. Serkis, of course, was also the one who revealed that Tom Hardy's Venom would be brought to life via performance-capture.According to Variety , Bumblebee and Kubo and the Two Strings' Travis Knight and Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Rupert Wyatt are also under consideration to direct Venom 2.Kelly Marcel scripted Venom 2, which will see stars Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams return. Woody Harrelson's Cletus Kasady (aka Carnage) was teased at the end of the 2018 film, which grossed over $800 million worldwide. Harrelson and Serkis, of course, starred together in War for the Planet of the Apes. ( Watch them respond to IGN Comments together.)For more on Venom 2, check out our wishlist of everything we want in the sequel