Just got back from the SPIDER-MAN 3 panel at the Con and consider my mind officially blown. VENOM was finally confirmed and in a big way. Like this:

Sam Raimi was there along with Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard and Topher Grace. The footage they showed was a bit rough in spots - some animatics here and there - but boy, oh boy, did it bring the house down. It actually brought out the fanboy in me as I caught myself pumping my fist at the big Venom reveal. Yeah, I didn't think they'd do it but after the SPIDER-MAN 3 logo came up they showed Grace as Eddie Brock in the bell tower with the symbiote dripping on him and then transforming into Venom. The rest of the footage showed so pretty cool stuff including Sandman's battle with Spidey (Spidey pushing his head against a moving subway car as it starts to disintegrate into sand) and Mary Jane caught in what appears to be Venom's webs. Speaking of our Sandman, here also is the Sandman character poster:

Full details on the panel, including my interviews with Raimi, Maguire and Dunst, still to come. Just wanted to pass along the quick word for now. Stay tuned!
5:03AM on 07/24/2006
The trailer was sooo cool! I forgot to breath for those 90 seconds... I turned purple! WOW! What a trailer... can't wait to see it finished and in HD. ^_^ Venom will appear or in the last 5 mins or...
The trailer was sooo cool! I forgot to breath for those 90 seconds... I turned purple! WOW! What a trailer... can't wait to see it finished and in HD. ^_^ Venom will appear or in the last 5 mins or for at least 40 mins... not something in between. They won't waste it! I presume it will be a-là Darth Vader in SW Ep.III... it will be shown for the final moments. (sigh) But I wanna believe! Like Arwen says: "There is still Hope!". Ciao!