Sony Pictures Releasing unleashes Venom across C4 'Continuity Breaks'

25 September 2018

To mark the release of the new action-packed movie Venom, which hits cinemas on Wednesday 3rd October 2018, Channel 4 has partnered with Sony Pictures Releasing and Manning Gottlieb OMD on a series of ‘continuity breaks’ that will be disrupted by the anti-hero.

Using specially designed content, the enigmatic and badass character Venom will wreak havoc by invading a series of ten-second ‘continuity announcements’ featuring the iconic Channel 4 giant. 

One of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters takes centre stage as Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) becomes the host for the alien symbiote Venom. As a journalist, Eddie has been trying to take down the notorious founder of the Life Foundation, genius Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) – and that obsession ruined his career and his relationship with his girlfriend, Anne Weying (Michelle Williams). Upon investigating one of Drake’s experiments, the alien Venom merges with Eddie’s body, and he suddenly has incredible new superpowers, as well as the chance to do just about whatever he wants. Twisted, dark, unpredictable, and fuelled by rage, Venom leaves Eddie wrestling to control dangerous abilities that he also finds empowering and intoxicating. As Eddie and Venom need each other to get what they’re looking for, they become more and more intertwined — where does Eddie end and Venom begin?

The campaign for the Channel 4 promos was conceived and brokered Manning Gottlieb OMD and Az Sulleyman, Channel 4 Partnerships. It will see the hugely popular comic book anti-hero Venom unleashed across the programming schedule from Tuesday 25th September between popular shows such as The Great British Bake Off, First Dates, Location and The Circle.

The promos, produced by The Picture Production Company, will conclude with an exclusive 60-second movie trailer, which will air during Gogglebox on Friday, September 28th 2018. 

Chris Braithwaite, Agency Principal, said: “We love the Venom character and have found an edgy, creative, attention-grabbing way to disrupt our schedules and bring the spirit of the movie to Channel 4 viewers. The ‘continuity breaks’ will both surprise and excite, and the work is a testament to the collaboration between Channel 4, Sony Pictures Releasing and Manning Gottlieb OMD.”

Ian George, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Sony Pictures Releasing, said: “From the creativity and uniqueness of the ‘continuity promos’ to the number of viewers it attracts, Channel 4 is the perfect platform to showcase a Venom takeover. We’re delighted to work with a channel that is renowned for broadcasting content with a difference, which is also why we’re treating viewers to a special 60-second trailer of the movie.”

 

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Examples to the ‘continuity breaks’ can be found here: https://youtu.be/wQ-XWrIqi48 

About Channel 4

Channel 4 is a publicly-owned yet commercially-funded public service broadcaster and has a remit to be innovative, experimental and distinctive. Its public ownership and not-for-profit status ensure all profit generated by its commercial activity is directly reinvested back into the delivery of its public service remit. As a publisher-broadcaster, Channel 4 is also required to commission UK content from the independent production sector and currently works with over 300 creative companies across the UK every year. In addition to the main Channel 4 service, its portfolio includes: E4, More4, Film4, 4Music, 4seven, Channel4.com and digital service All 4.

About Venom

Columbia Pictures presents, in association with Marvel and Tencent Pictures, an Avi Arad / Matt Tolmach / Pascal Pictures Production, Venom.  Starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze, and Reid Scott.  Directed by Ruben Fleischer.  Produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Amy Pascal.  Screenplay by Jeff Pinkner & Scott Rosenberg and Kelly Marcel. Screen Story by Jeff Pinkner & Scott Rosenberg.  Based on the Marvel Comics.  Executive Producers are David Householter, Stan Lee, Kelly Marcel, Tom Hardy, Edward Cheng, and Howard Chen.  Director of Photography is Matthew Libatique, ASC.  Production Designer is Oliver Scholl.  Edited by Maryann Brandon, ACE and Alan Baumgarten, ACE.  Visual Effects Supervisor is Paul Franklin.  Costume Designer is Kelli Jones.  Music by Ludwig Göransson.  Music Supervision by Gabe Hilfer.