Our first look at Tom Hardy in Venom is not what the people want

Sony Pictures’ Venom is apparently moving right along in production, despite the fact that it’s neither a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe nor connected to Sony’s current Spider-Man franchise. The folks behind the film released the first official photo of Tom Hardy as the titular anti-hero today, but it might not be what you were hoping for.

When a movie production offers you a first look at Tom Hardy in Venom, it wouldn’t be too much to expect a look at the Symbiote itself, in all its toothéd and oozing midnight glory. Instead, Sony offered this, first revealed on IGN:

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Well, it is technically Tom Hardy in Venom. It’s just Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, the merely human half of the interstellar partnership between a washed up tabloid reporter and a murderous alien parasite.

Don’t you know, Sony? People aren’t into the tight bods of actors like Hardy right now. They’re into fishmen and — OK, also fishpeople. The people want monsters, Sony. Give the people what they want.