Venom: The Last Dance Ending Explained: What is the Codex and Why is it Important to Knull?

Venom: The Last Dance Ending Explained: Venom: The Last Dance marks the conclusion of a story that has always divided the general public at the cinema, even when it came to super fans of the character in question. “The Last Dance” of two protagonists who have traveled a long road together, marking and inspiring some hypotheses that, at least in the case of Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his symbiote, seem to have no future outlet. Everything remains in the hands of Sony, therefore, with a cinematic vision that continues to draw from the universe that we all know, anticipating, perhaps, some future projects that have once again inspired the most varied discussions. So how does Venom: The Last Dance end? Has the journey of our two protagonists reached an irremediably closed climax, or is there some possibility of an opening for the future? We will try to address these questions with an analysis of the ending of the film directed by Kelly Marcel. Continuing reading implies the direct involvement of some important spoilers regarding the plot of Venom: The Last Dance. We have warned you.

The sequel to “Venom” (2018) and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (2021) begins by showing that Knull, the god of the void, destroyer of worlds, and creator of the symbiotes, was imprisoned by the latter when the light invaded his realm. However, there is a way to escape from his prison: a code found on Earth, specifically in Eddie/Venom. The Xenophobes, who are also a creation of Knull, are in charge of finding it. Meanwhile, the protagonist of Venom: The Last Dance returns to his universe after the events of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Tired of all that, the symbiote causes destruction in the bar and leaves a part of his body on a coin. When he learns of Patrick Mulligan’s death, Eddie decides to go to New York to threaten the prosecutor and get him to drop the charges against him.

Venom: The Last Dance Ending Explained

In the final part of Venom: The Last Dance we see our Eddie captured by the American army, specifically by a secret unit that over time has specialized in the study of symbiotes, now moved to the new “Area 55”. Aware of the fact that the protagonists hold possession of the so-called Codex, a sort of artifact coveted by the villain of the story Knull whose liberation depends on it, unless it is destroyed with the death of one of the two. Pursued by the beasts that Knull himself has unleashed in search of his freedom, we see one of these infiltrate the secret base, triggering the epic final battle of the film. Two factions are then formed: on one side the army, Eddie/Venom and the symbiotes, freed, and on the other, the alien creature from before, then joined by other similar creatures invincible and unstoppable (an unexpected element is found in the Hippy family with whom Eddie bonds during the previous journey up to this point, also casually involved in the clash).

When all seems lost and impossible to reverse, Eddie and Venom implement a plan to try to put an end to the battle once and for all, choosing to sacrifice themselves for the good of all and prevent the liberation of Knull. So we see Venom busy absorbing all the enemy beasts and then taking himself under acid rain that will mark his and their end forever (with the help of General Rex Strickland), but not before having freed himself from Eddie by protecting him. In the meantime, Dr. Payne (Juno Temple) manages to save herself and a colleague by the skin of her teeth, using the last remaining symbiote, Agony, right during the explosion of the base.

Venom’s sacrifice, therefore, saves the situation by preventing Knull’s escape from his prison and any threat in this sense. After the fight Eddie will wake up in a hospital bed with a clean criminal record, but without his lifelong friend. If he never talks about what happened to him and what he did, no one will ever come looking for him again. In the final sequence of Venom: The Last Dance we see Brock moved to New York while he looks at the Statue of Liberty, just as Venom would have wanted to do. Such a conclusion doesn’t leave much room for speculation regarding the two protagonists in question and what may or may not be done with them in the future.

Why Is the Codex on Eddie and Venom?

The codex Knull needs to escape with Eddie and Venom, having emerged when the black symbiote revived its host. Mulligan/Toxin reveals that to prevent Knull’s attack they must destroy the code – that is, kill either the symbiote or its host. Strickland happily agrees, but Payne is hesitant. After General Strickland and his troops are attacked and destroyed by Xenophages, Eddie meets a family heading to Area 51 to meet aliens before they destroy the place. With the help of this group, the protagonist of Venom: The Last Dance reaches Las Vegas, where he meets Mrs. Chen again.

At the casino, Venom transforms and attracts xenophage. Although he manages to hide, he cannot avoid being captured by General Strickland, who takes control of Dr. Payne’s laboratory and prevents Eddie’s death by releasing Venom. Once again, the transformation attracts the symbiote hunter and a huge confrontation ensues. The other symbiotes held in the lab are released in an attempt to stop the xenophage, who makes a sound to call for reinforcements. When Knull sends more symbiote hunters to the base through a portal, it becomes clear that they will not be able to win the battle, so Venom realizes that the only way to stop the creatures is to sacrifice himself.

Venom, Does He Die?

Venom drags all the Xenophages into the acid vat and Strickland, who was badly injured, is in charge of activating it. “I will never forget you, don’t forget me, Eddie”, Venom tells Eddie. “For now, it’s just goodbye”, Strickland subsequently blows himself up with a grenade that destroys everything around him. As they escape, Dr. Payne uses the Flash symbiote to save her partner. Meanwhile, Eddie wakes up and tries to talk to Venom but gets no response. After learning that his record is clean, Eddie heads to the Statue of Liberty and reminisces about his friend. However, one of the post-credits scenes could be a hint at the symbiote’s return.

What Do the Post-Credits Scenes in Venom: The Last Dance Mean?

In the first post-credits scene of Venom: The Last Dance, Knull proclaims that even though he lost the battle, the planets belong to him and they will all be destroyed, suggesting he could reappear in an upcoming film. “Spider-Man 4”? In the second post-credits scene, it is shown that the bartender who was arrested by Strickland survived the lab explosion, as does a cockroach that appears near a broken jar. Is this the jar the general used to capture the Venom fragment?

Can Venom Return?

Though Venom sacrifices himself at the end of the film, it’s possible that the Codex left a symbiotic fragment in Eddie’s body, potentially allowing for his resurrection. Additionally, a fragment of Venom left behind in the MCU is shown in the post-credits scenes of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and another fragment escapes after the battle at Area 55 in “The Last Dance,” leaving the door open for his return.

What Happens to Knull at the End of Venom: The Last Dance?

When Venom destroys the Codex, Knull is trapped in his prison, furious and out for revenge. Though he can’t break free, the film suggests that Knull still has a connection to the symbiotes’ hive mind, and the threat of his return looms large. Director Kelly Marcel has hinted that Knull will be a “Thanos-level villain” in future installments, promising a major expansion of Sony’s universe.

Dr. Payne and the Agony Symbiote: Venom’s Replacement?

In one of the final scenes, Dr. Payne (Juno Temple) fuses with the Agony symbiote, one of five symbiotes created in the comics by the Life Foundation as a defense against Venom. Agony has unique abilities, such as the ability to spit acid, and could take Venom’s place in symbiote history in future Sony installments.

The Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty: A Tribute to Venom and His Journey?

In the final moment, Venom mentions to Eddie his wish to have seen the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and hope. This subtle mention underscores Venom’s background as an “immigrant” seeking acceptance in a new world, and his final sacrifice represents his longing to live in peace and freedom.

What Do Post-Credits Scenes Leave Us With?

In the first post-credits scene, we see Knull in his prison, furious and vowing revenge: “The King in Black is awake; his world will be mine and they will all burn.” This confirms his return in future films, where he will become a massive threat to the Spider-Man and symbiotes’ universe. The second scene shows a fragment of the symbiote escaping in Area 55, hinting that Venom, or at least a version of him could return. With this scene, Sony leaves the door open to a possible reincarnation of Venom or a new version of the character.

What Can We Expect from the Future of Sony and Knull?

With the introduction of Knull, the King in Black, Sony has the potential to build an epic “Avengers”-style event into its Spider-Man universe. While Tom Hardy has made it clear that his trilogy is over, his statement at New York Comic Con leaves open the possibility that Eddie Brock could face Spider-Man in the future. Venom and Knull are shaping up to be key pieces in a larger narrative, and “Venom: The Last Dance” has laid a solid foundation for the next chapters in Sony’s symbiote universe.