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From Spider-Man and Batman to Wolverine and Iron Man, the world of comic books is full of recognizable and memorable characters. However, the choice to cast Topher Grace as ‘Venom’ inSpider-Man 3has caused controversy among fans for years. Some claim that Grace’s portrayal was the worst casting choice ever made for a comic book movie. But is that really the case?
Science is something that we need more of. So, despite all of its flaws, and disastrous miscasting,Spider-Man 3deserves praise for explaining the Venom phenomenon in plain terms that anyone can understand. Venom is a toxic substance produced by some animals, (such as snakes, scorpions, and bees), and it can be dangerous or even lethal.
Thus, simply put, it can kill all of your other cells. It explains a lot of things. However, it does not address how Topher Grace came to be portrayed as a vicious extraterrestrial supervillain.
In general, it can be agreed that Sam Raimi had attempted to cram in too many villains in his films, which caused Grace’s Venom to receive the poorest reviews of the bunch.
It was intended for the 44-year-old actor to use this role as the super anti-hero as a launching pad for her career, but initially, the opposite happened.
Also Read:Sony’s Madame Web Allegedly Bringing Back Topher Grace’s Venom From Spider-Man 3
Did Venom by Topher Grace Lower the Bar?
Before anything else, it is critical to understand that whileTopher Grace‘s portrayal of Eddie Brock/Venom was not universally praised, it was not entirely his fault. The actor had little opportunity to truly excel in his role inSpider-Man 3due to its complex plot and an excessive number of antagonists.
He also changed Venom from the traditional comic book character, which might have disappointed some comic book die-hard fans.
Although opinions may differ, some of the issues withSpider-Man 3included the presence of too many villains and the miscasting of Topher Grace as the beloved character, Venom.
While many fans were curious about how theThat 70’s Showactor was chosen for the role, Topher Grace himself admitted he was still unsure about the casting. He once explained to Cinema Blend that he was shocked to be cast as Venom:
“I was a huge fan of the character of Venom when I was a kid when Todd McFarlane brought him into the comic. I was a huge fan of it. And I was surprised and a little bit like ‘Huh?’ when they wanted me to play it. So when I look at it now, at the movie that’s coming out, I go ‘That’s the guy.’ In terms of how I think the guy should be played and who should play it.”
Thus, the casting was a little unexpected, and he was not even exactly sure why he was picked, as he once revealed to Michael Rosenbaum on hisInside of YouPodcast.
Also Read:Fall From Grace: Actors Who Fizzled Out After Leaving Their Hit TV Shows
Fans’ Verdict on Worst Comic Book Villain Casting of All Time
Topher Grace’s choice to play Venom inSpider-Man 3has considerably generated a lot of discussion in the comic book community. Sony Pictures took a big risk when they decided to cast Grace in this thirdSpider-Manmovie, but was it worth it?Was Venom’s portrayal by Topher Grace inSpider-Man 3the worst comic book movie casting ever?
Let us examine Venom’s persona and theHome Economicsactor’s portrayal of this supervillain in more detail. Characters like Venom are renowned for their imposing presence, viciously terrifying skills, and large, muscular builds. Grace, on the other hand, is a lean actor, who stands at 5’11” and is well known for his comedic roles inThat 70s Show.
In contrast to what comic book fans had hoped for, Topher Grace’s gangling frame was seen battling Tobey Maguire’sSpider-Man.
And as evidenced by their tweets, that disappointed the fans:
Is Topher Grace as Venom in Spider-Man 3 the worst comic book movie casting? If not, what is worse?pic.twitter.com/xiYPOaxBm5
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel)July 14, 2025
They also expressed their opinion on who other can be the worst comic book villain casting ever.
There’s so many worst castings.. Clooney as Batman.. being an obvious one..
— Caleb Crews (@ATXCALEB)June 25, 2025
Jared Leto as either Morbius or the Joker, flip a coin. Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Oscar Isaccs as Apocalypse, the true crime was the waste of an excellent actor. And whoever were the villains of Ms. Marvel were, that was so forced and unnecessary. Also…She-Hulk.
— I.M.Solomon90 (@soloknight90)August 09, 2025
(1/2) I would definitely say it’s up there, but I think my least favorites are Lex Luther and the Joker in the DCEU. I think that both actors are good, but a mixture of poor writing, editing, and casting made their performances lack luster. I will admit, Jared Leto was good in…
— The Peoplesdude ❎ (@The_Peoplesdude)August 01, 2025
Before i say who was worse, let me start by saying he played a great villain, just not the one he was cast as. Heath Ledger is not Joker by anything other than name
— Reel Films 1998 (@Reelfilms1998)July 10, 2025
Worst is Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman.
— Mesnik_NS (@mesnikns)June 07, 2025
Even though Topher Grace’s portrayal of Venom may not have been a fan favorite, it would not be fair to say that the casting was the worst ever for a comic book movie.
But this also holds true that fans were pleasantly disappointed by how differently theSpider-Man 3actor portrayed Venom than they had anticipated. His voice and skills let them down, and the writing did not do the character’s demeanor justice.
You can currently streamSpider-Man 3on Amazon Prime Video and Hotstar.
Also Read:15 Facts About Spider-Man: No Way Home That You Still Might Not Know
Source-Twitter
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
