Dakota Johnson in Talks for ‘Madame Web’ Film with Sony/Marvel
The Fifty Shades of Grey star is in talks to star in a new film. Will Dakota Johnson be the new Madame Web?
Over the weekend, Deadline announced Dakota Johnson is in talks to star in Sony/Marvel’s future Madame Web film. The studio’s intention to create a feature film about the clairvoyant character was announced in 2019. Aside from rumors, Johnson’s involvement is the first news we’ve on from the production.
From The Amazing Spider-Man #210 by Dennis O’Neil & John Romita
Who is Madame Web?
Madame Web, or Cassandra Webb, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #210 in 1980. Cassandra suffers from a neuromuscular disease and is medically assisted by a life support system shaped like a giant spider web.
Get it? Webb? Spider webs? Gotta love a universe with a theme!
Cassandra has pre-cognitive abilities and has used them to assist Spider-Man in various ways throughout the comics. She’s appeared in several Spider-Man video games and in animated series featuring the web-slinger.
From The Amazing Spider-Man #210 by Dennis O’Neil & John Romita
Okay, But Then Who is Julia Carpenter?
Dakota Johnson seems a little young to play the original Madame Web– after all, Cassandra as we know her in the comics is an elderly woman. I would love to see Sony fully lean into an HBIC silver fox like Cassandra running the show. But she isn’t the only Madame Web who could be featured.
It’s more likely that the 32-year-old Johnson will be playing the second incarnation of Madame Web. When Cassandra died, she passed her powers to Julia Carpenter. Julia obtained Spider-Man-like powers when she was unknowingly injected with an experimental mix of spider-venom and plant extracts.
From Spider-Woman #2 by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, John Czop, & Fred Fredericks
Madame Web on the Big Screen
Sony has been branching out into its Marvel properties over the last few years. With two Venom films and Morbius now expected to release this spring, the studio is clearly building up their own corner of the Marvel multiverse.
Not long ago, Sandra Bullock was rumored to be in talks with Sony to play Cassandra Webb. The actress denied the rumors to Jimmy Kimmel, but who hasn’t denied a Marvel casting rumor on a late-night talk show?
Madame Web Details
Jessica Jones and Defenders director S.J. Clarkson is on board to direct the Madame Web film. Morbius writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless have reportedly penned the screenplay for this film as well. Word is that the production is aiming to begin filming this year, meaning the film could release as early as 2023.
From Secret Wars by Jim Shooter & Mike Zeck
