New set photos from the production of Sony Pictures' Madame Web movie reveal a key Spider-Man Easter egg. While Spider-Man has been an active part of Marvel Studios' ever-growing MCU, Sony Pictures has also been busy setting up its own superhero universe. Dubbed Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU), the studio launched its own interconnected franchise in 2018 with the Tom Hardy-led Venom. While heavily based on Spider-Man villains, those characters are being re-imagined as anti-heroes who still keep the world safe, but are depicted as morally gray.
One of the next films that Sony Pictures has in the works is Madame Web, with Dakota Johnson as the titular lead. Directed by S.J. Clarkson, based on a screenplay by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, Madame Web is somewhat of a mystery project. The studio has yet to reveal many specifics in terms of character or plot since announcing the movie. While Johnson is set to play Madame Web, it's unclear if she will portray Cassandra Webb, the character most associated with that name. Other reports have claimed that Madame Web is meant to be the "Doctor Strange" figure of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
Madame Web is currently in the midst of principal photography, with Johnson having been spotted filming alongside co-stars Adam Scott and Emma Roberts. As filming is going on, new photos from the set (via Reddit user MarvelStudiosSpoilers) have revealed a key Spider-Man-related Easter Egg that should be recognizable to many fans. A set image revealed a Daily Bugle van driving around, confirming that J. Jonah Jameson's newspaper will appear in the film. Check out the Madame Web set photo below.
Whether or not this Spider-Man Easter egg means The Daily Bugle is simply a visual cameo, or actually has a role in Madame Web's story, remains to be seen. It has been widely speculated that Madame Web will either have some time travel elements or is perhaps a Spider-Man prequel for a number of reasons. At this point, it could be either of those options, particularly as set photos from July revealed that Madame Web would be at least partly set in an early 2000s New York City; the setting for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.
Regardless of whether Madame Web involves time travel or is entirely set in the early 2000s, it does seem that Sony wants to create a larger mythology for its Spider-Man Universe. If a recent rumor turns out to be true, Madame Web may also feature Peter Parker's parents alongside Johnson's main character. This would explain the retro-looking The Daily Bugle van, and would also allow the film to start setting up the web-slinger in the SSU. Even though Spider-Man has yet to appear in any of the SSU films, it does seem inevitable that characters like Venom, Kraven, Madame Web, and Morbius will at some point come into contact with the hero. For now, speculation is all fans have as Madame Web continues to film.
Source. Reddit
