Sony Studios owns the rights to the Spider-Man universe, and they have every intention of keeping it separate from Marvel. Sadly, this means it's unlikely we'll get to see the web-head join the Avengers any time soon. However, Sony does plan to build a huge Avengers-like universe with the characters they have. But Spidey's just one guy, how could they build a multi-film universe?
The plan for now, it seems, is to have Amazing Spider-Man 1-4, a Sinister Six film, a Venom film, and a recently announced, all female character based movie. How? We don't know. What we do know is that they just started referring to the Venom movie as Venom Carnage.
This is amazing news for Spidey fans for one, because Carnage will finally see the screen, but it also gives them a chance to do Venom right. Venom was horribly mishandled in Spider-Man 3, when he was a throwaway third act villain with no time to develop much (if any) real backstory. Now, it seems they're doing it right, giving him is own movie, to fully flesh out just who Eddie Brock, and the Symbiote are!
Now for the hard part: which Venom do they go with? Hopefully it's the 616 (regular comics continuity) Brock, who's a bodybuilding maniac, bent on destroying Spider-Man because he ruined his journalism career. They might also go with the Ultimate universe iteration (which, in fairness is what most Marvel Studios films and this round of Spider-Man films are drawing from) in which Eddie is more of an anti-Peter Parker.
We've cast for both versions accordingly, the hulking brutish Brock, as well as the squirrely, vengeful, Ultimate universe style Eddie as well.
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Dominic Purcell
616 Universe Venom - the voice, the build, the attitude. Purcell is the long time fan-favorite for the role. Plus, it would give him the chance to wash that Dracula character he played in the Blade trinity out of our minds.
Idris Elba
616 Universe Venom - this guy is a beast, and he's impossibly talented. He can play intimidating, while being charming and smart. And, we would love to hear Elba say "We Are Venom."
Joe Manganiello
616 Universe Venom - if they do the regular universe Eddie Brock, he needs to be massive, while simultaneously charming and intimidating. He needs to be old and mature enough, with enough demons to play washed up and merciless. This guy has all of that in spades.
Bonus: He played Flash Thompson in the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man, so technically he would be filling both Flash and Brock as Venom continuities.
Ryan Kwanten
616 (if he bulked up some) or Ultimate (if he trimmed down some) Venom - Kwanten is a rare contender for either universe's interpretation of Venom. He's right there in the middle of the age range, build, and type. But, he's also got the acting chops, the fan following, and most importantly the dedication to go either way. He made his own fan film starring as Eddie Brock, Truth in Journalism, with the same producers who did Dirty Laundry (the Punisher fan film with Tom Jane).
Samuel Witwer
616 Universe Venom - Witwer has the build, the talent, the voice, the geek cred (thanks to both a Doomsday and Star Wars related resume boost), the comic knowledge, and just has an awesome look. This guy is Venom.
Dwayne Johnson
616 Universe Venom - this really needs no explanation. He'd kill it.
Tom Felton
Ultimate Universe Venom - Felton is another master of smarmy, whiny, and vile. He's roughly the same age as Andrew Garfield, and has a great following to help with box office pull. Plus, he could use an iconic role so he's not just seen as Malfoy.
Tom Hardy
616 Universe Venom - Sure, this guy was also on the Sinister Six cast wish list, but of any character in Marvel, he's most suited for Venom. The build, the determination, the vulnerability, the venomous tenacity (pun very much intended). This guy could bring Heath Ledger's Joker-level awesome to the role.
Aaron Paul
Ultimate Universe Venom - if they go the Ultimate route, there is no one better at playing sniveling, dejected, almost unlikable but somehow lovable wash ups than Aaron Paul. This guy is so endearing and charming, he can do no wrong, Plus, he's incredibly talented and totally has the same look and build. Yeah B!tch, Symbiotes!
Ezra Miller
Ultimate Universe Venom - man, can this guy play unhinged. Watch We Need to Talk About Kevin and say this guy couldn't pull off the dichotomy of Venom.