In Venom 3, Rex Strickland emerges as a significant character chasing Eddie Brock and Venom, offering only a glimpse into his extensive comic book legacy. (Spoiler alert: the following contains spoilers!)
This installment, titled Venom: The Last Dance, features Eddie and his symbiotic counterpart on the run from Knull, the Xenophage, a covert research team operating out of Area 51, and the formidable soldier, Rex Strickland.
Portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Strickland is characterized as a morally grounded soldier who becomes increasingly wary as he witnesses the chaos stemming from Dr. Payne’s symbiotic experiments.
While Strickland plays a secondary role in the film, his comic book background is quite profound. His battles against alien beings, paired with his wartime experiences, render him a deeply complex character.
Rex Strickland’s History in the Vietnam War
At just 19 years old, Rex Strickland joined the US Army and fought in the Vietnam War, where he was rescued by Nick Fury after sustaining injuries that led him to partake in a symbiote super-soldier experiment.
In 1966, Strickland heroically chose to endanger himself for his squad during a crucial mission. He was gravely injured by gunfire and napalm, forcing his evacuation to a nearby military hospital.
While recuperating, Nick Fury extended an offer to Strickland for enhanced capabilities through a bond with an ancient symbiotic substance discovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. Accepting this proposition, Strickland formed a bond and was assigned the code name ‘Tyrannosaurus.’
Rejoining the battlefield with his new powers and alongside a brigade of super-soldiers, Strickland and his team were tasked with destroying a Việt Cộng depot. Unfortunately, they soon lost control of their symbiotes, leading to disturbing acts during their missions.
Throughout these operations, Strickland frequently experienced blackouts, regaining consciousness to horrifying scenes of carnage, all while tormented by the cries of his symbiote.
A decoy of Nick Fury, along with Logan (known as Wolverine), was ultimately dispatched to restrain Strickland and his unit. However, during this confrontation, Strickland’s Tyrannosaurus symbiote detached. Although he succeeded in alerting Fury and Logan, chaos erupted, resulting in the symbiote reattaching to Strickland, who had begun to feel regret for its actions. Tragically, he was lost in the explosion triggered by the Fury decoy’s self-destruction.
Strickland’s Unique Avengers Team
After his demise in Vietnam, Strickland’s consciousness survived within the Symbiote Hive-Mind as a codex.
The Tyrannosaurus symbiote absorbed his identity and traits, allowing it to impersonate him. During this time, it bonded with Venom, defeating the symbiote dragon Grendel while barely escaping destruction in a massive explosion.
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Rex Strickland in Venom: The Last Dance
Eventually, Strickland and Tyrannosaurus reconnected in the afterlife of symbiotes, forming a coalition of various symbiotes and their hosts to thwart Knull’s resurgence. Among those recruited was Eddie Brock, whom Strickland saved.
The team located the God Hive, but the codex belonging to Flash Thompson seized control of Tyrannosaurus as its avatar, leaving Eddie trapped in a living void and seemingly annihilating Strickland’s codex in the process.
Potential for a Return
Even though Venom 3 is billed as the final chapter for Venom and Eddie Brock, there remain possibilities for Rex Strickland’s return in future symbiote-centric films.
With pathways open for the return of Knull, it raises the question—could Strickland also reappear? At the end of Venom 3, Strickland sacrifices himself in a grenade explosion to assist in defeating the Xenophage alongside Venom, yet this doesn’t conclusively mean his story is over.
Given his resurrection in various comic arcs, it’s plausible that Strickland still holds a significant role in the future. Could we anticipate a symbiote prequel set during the Vietnam War? The future remains uncertain! However, director Kelly Marcel has hinted at more Venom narratives on the horizon.
“This concludes the arc for Eddie and Venom,” Marcel stated [via Variety]. “Yet, the symbiote narrative is vast and rich with numerous possibilities; there are potential Easter eggs scattered throughout that could hint at exploring these storylines further.”
Venom: The Last Dance is currently playing in theaters.
Discover more about the post-credits scene in Venom 3. You can also explore the Easter eggs hidden within the film and learn about upcoming Marvel projects.
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