In the world of superheroes, Dakota Johnson's Madame Web stands out as a unique addition to the genre. This film, rooted in the Spider-Man universe, tells the tale of Cassandra Webb, a New York City paramedic portrayed by Johnson, who suddenly gains clairvoyant abilities to see the future. These newfound powers intertwine her destiny with three other young women: Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Mattie Franklin (Celeste O'Connor), and Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced).
This fascinating group of women finds themselves united against a masked figure named Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim), who possesses the same ability to glimpse into the future, adding an intriguing layer to the storyline. 'I wasn't super into comic books before. This was a new world to me, so it was Cassie and this movie that brought me in,' shared Johnson during the film's premiere in Los Angeles.
At its core, Madame Web revolves around female empowerment and the support women can provide to each other, encouraging them to step into their own power and protect one another. The character of Madame Web originates from the Marvel Comics, first appearing in a comic book in 1980. She is depicted as an elderly medium whom Peter Parker encounters and recognizes as a super-powered being.
Aligned closely with Spider-Man and other spider-powered characters from the comic books, Madame Web's abilities are deeply intertwined with the Spider-Man universe. In the movie, Sweeney, O'Connor, and Merced portray younger versions of characters who, at various points in the comics, go by the names Spider-Woman and Spider-Girl.
Madame Web is part of Sony's extended universe of Spider-Man-related projects that began with the 2018 film Venom, starring Tom Hardy. Sony has produced previous Spider-Man movies featuring Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, as well as animated Spider-Verse films and co-produces Tom Holland's Spider-Man films with Marvel Studios. Alongside Madame Web, Sony plans to release a third Venom film and the upcoming Kraven the Hunter in 2024, all building upon this interconnected Spider-Man universe.
While the iconic Spider-Man himself has yet to make an appearance in these standalone Spider-Man adjacent films, there are familiar characters and references. For example, Adam Scott portrays Ben Parker, Peter's uncle whose death serves as the catalyst for the hero's journey. Additionally, Emma Roberts portrays Mary Parker, Peter's soon-to-be mother.
Madame Web also features several characters who previously appeared in Sony's 2023 animated film, Across the Spider-Verse, further linking the interconnected world of spider-powered heroes.
Director SJ Clarkson emphasizes that Madame Web truly stands on its own, with a standalone story rather than serving as a piece of a larger puzzle. 'She's definitely in a standalone world,' Clarkson explains. 'I was able to just have free rein and let the movie be what it needed to be, as opposed to trying to force it into something else. That was a gift, in a way, to be able to take something and bring a fresh and original take to it.'
Nonetheless, industry insiders speculate that Sony could potentially use Madame Web to connect the various Spider-Man storylines and universes in the future. Jeff Gomez, a former Sony story consultant, suggests that Madame Web has the potential to tie together the multiverse for Spider-Man characters, acting as a bridge between universes.
The official synopsis describes Madame Web as 'the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing's most enigmatic heroines.' It portrays the film as a suspense-driven thriller, with Dakota Johnson's character using her newfound ability to alter the future while simultaneously uncovering secrets from her past. As Cassandra forges a bond with three other young women destined for greatness, they must navigate the dangers of their present to fulfill their powerful destinies.
Madame Web, the latest addition to Sony's Spider-Man universe, is now showing in theaters.
