The “Venom” sequel has found a new host. Andy Serkis has officially signed on to direct Tom Hardy in “Venom 2,” continuing the adventures of everyone’s favorite journalist-and-slobbery-alien-symbiote combo. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, and Serkis soon confirmed it on Instagram, writing, “It’s actually happening. I can feel it, the Symbiote has found a host in me, and I’m ready for the ride… Can’t wait! Are you ready [Tom Hardy]?” Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer directed the original Venom, which starred Hardy as a down-on-his-luck journalist named Eddie Brock, who gains superpowers after bonding with an interstellar* alien* creature known as Venom. The film opened in 2018, and despite not-so-glowing critical reviews, it raked in more than US$850 million worldwide. Hardy is still the only confirmed cast member, but presumably*, the sequel will focus on Woody Harrelson’s serial killer Cletus Kasady, who popped up in one of Venom’s post-credits scenes. In the comics, Kasady bonds with a symbiote* of his own to become the notorious big bad Carnage, a homicidal* maniac* who frequently faces off against Venom. Serkis is best known for his revolutionary motion-capture roles in films like”The Lord of the Rings” series and the recent “Planet of the Apes” movies. He’s previously directed two films: the 2017 drama “Breathe” and Netflix’s “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.” (SD-Agencies) | 