Sony’s Madame Web is generating buzz, thanks in part to an intriguing international promo featuring star Dakota Johnson and the newest castings that may reveal its connection to Spider-Man. No, we don’t mean the whole “He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died” thing.
Marvel Studios’ 2024 film slate only comprises Deadpool 3, as we recently learned. Considering the lukewarm response at the box office for recent MCU films, Sony Pictures Entertainment is poised to take advantage if it plays its cards right with the upcoming Spider-Verse projects. With Madame Web being the first of these to be released, it has the additional pressure of setting expectations for the rest.
Will it make a good impression on the moviegoing fans who are supposedly jaded with “superhero fatigue”? Madame Web lead star Dakota Johnson certainly thinks so, as she speaks highly about her role and predicting the success of the film in a new promo clip.
#MadameWeb #DakotaJohnson pic.twitter.com/5mjINUAmL3
— betül (@BetoDraws) January 11, 2024
The video provides a quick glimpse into the clairvoyant character Johnson portrays, Cassandra Webb. She also teased audiences with the promise that they will love the movie — so much so that they might even see it twice. Could this be a hint that the film will actually have multiple endings?
One other potential hook being kept under wraps is the casting of Emma Roberts and Adam Scott and what roles they are playing. Although filming wrapped early last year, the details of what their roles are have been scarce. This sparked speculation suggesting they might be portraying Peter Parker’s mother, Mary, and his beloved Uncle Ben, respectively.
Adam Scott’s portrayal of Uncle Ben, a pivotal figure in the Spider-Man mythos, would bring a fresh perspective to the character. In Madame Web, Scott’s character is depicted as a young paramedic, collaborating briefly with Cassandra Webb before her transition into a super-powered guardian.
While the extent of Scott’s role remains uncertain, his appearance confirms the existence of Peter Parker in Madame Web’s universe – not that this comes as a surprise – and puts a new spin, pardon the pun, on Ben Parker’s background.
In addition, if Emma Roberts is indeed playing Mary Parker, this will be the first time Peter Parker’s mom is portrayed with actual depth. In previous Spider-Man films, the birth parents of the future Wall-crawler have been simply portrayed in backstories, with the exception of The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2 fleshing out Richard Parker (played by Campbell Scott). Interestingly, Sony has not released any promotional images of Emma Roberts, which adds fuel to the fires of speculation.
In the comic books, Richard and Mary Parker were CIA Agents who engaged in secret missions during the Cold War. If the Madame Web film is taking a page from the comic book history, Mary’s role may prove pivotal in unraveling the broader conspiracy involving Ezekiel Sims and Madame Web.
Following a near-fatal accident, Cassandra embarks on a mission to shield three women — Julia Carpenter (Sydney Sweeney), Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor), and Anya Corazón (Isabela Merced) — from the relentless Ezekiel Sims.
Her journey unfolds the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance, culminating in the adoption of the ‘Madame Web’ moniker while becoming a mentor to three young women chosen by the Spider-Totem.
With the potential addition of Spider-Man’s mother and a younger version of Uncle Ben, the plot of the movie could be setting up Sony’s future plans for a completely new direction for their Spider-Man, separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe – but where does that leave Andrew Garfield’s rumored The Amazing Spider-Man 3?
Madame Web will swing into theaters on Feb. 14, 2024.
