Sony Pictures Malaysia, in partnership with Fusion Wayang Kulit, has announced an epic collaboration that brings the iconic Marvel anti-hero Venom into the world of traditional Malaysian shadow puppetry.

This cross-cultural project marks the first-ever collaboration between Sony Pictures Malaysia and Fusion Wayang Kulit. Audiences will witness the fusion of Venom with the rich, ancient heritage of Wayang Kulit, a traditional shadow puppet play, in a new form that blends modern and traditional storytelling.

This cinematic crossover is brought to life through the creative leadership of Tintoy Chuo, founder of Fusion Wayang Kulit, and the artistic expertise of Pak Dain, the renowned master puppeteer of Kelantan, Malaysia. Together, they’ve reimagined Venom within the intricately detailed and awe- inspiring world of Wayang Kulit, merging superhero aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship.

This two-month project collaboration began when Sony Pictures Malaysia approached Fusion Wayang Kulit with the idea of incorporating the Venom character into Malaysia’s ancient storytelling form. The project quickly evolved from concept to execution, with both parties working closely to honor the cultural heritage of Wayang Kulit while embracing Venom’s dark, edgy persona.

The final product, a unique combination of traditional performance art and modern filmmaking, will showcase Venom’s shadow puppet adaptation in both digital and live performances. As part of the rollout, audiences will be able to witness the artistry behind the collaboration through 60 second video recreating scene from the actual movie trailer and behind-the-scenes content on the puppet-making process with Tintoy Chuo and Pak Dain.

You can watch it on Twitter/X below (or on Facebook here):

You’ve seen Venom in Batik, now get ready for Venom in Wayang Kulit! ??

In collaboration with @fusionwk & Sony Pictures, this 2-month project blends modern cinema with the rich tradition of Wayang Kulit Kelantan. ?We couldn’t have done it without your support. ?? pic.twitter.com/5DLLtFcL5Y

— Sony Pictures M’sia (@sonypicmy) October 21, 2024

Catherine Chai, Marketing Director of Sony Pictures Entertainment Malaysia, said:

“We are thrilled to be working with Fusion Wayang Kulit on this exciting project. Venom has always been a character that pushes boundaries, and this collaboration allows us to break new ground by fusing Hollywood’s superhero genre with the authentic spirit of Malaysian traditional art,”

Fusion Wayang Kulit is equally excited to bring this collaboration to life.

Tintoy Chou, Founder of Fusion Wayang Kulit, said:

“Working with Venom allows us to showcase Malaysian traditional art on an epic scale, and we’re excited to see how our cultural heritage blends with one of the world’s most recognized anti-heroes,”

In Venom The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.

Venom: The Last Dance stars Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu and Alanna Ubach. The film is directed by Kelly Marcel from a screenplay she wrote, based on a story by Hardy and Marcel. The film is produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Kelly Marcel, Tom Hardy and Hutch Parker.

Venom The Last Dance premieres in Malaysian cinemas on 24 October 2024. In the meantime, check out my breakdown of Knull in the final trailer by heading over here.

Check out the final trailer below: