Sony's Spider-Man spin-off movie centered on Madame Web is gaining steam as Dakota Johnson enters talks to star in the titular role. Created by Denny O'Neil and John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in 1980's The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210 as a supporting character to the titular webslinger who first appeared to him in an effort to help find a kidnap victim. Madame Web was both a blind and paralyzed clairvoyant and precognative mutant, who is kept alive with a life support system resembling that of a spiderweb.
Development on a Madame Web movie was first announced in late 2019 when Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless were tapped by Sony to pen the script for Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The project would gain further ground in early 2020 as Jessica Jones director S.J. Clarkson was hired to helm the film, with the studio looking to make the project its first female-centric Marvel movie. Though word has largely gone quiet on Madame Web in the years since, the movie has taken a large leap forward in its development.
Deadline has brought word that Sony has entered talks with Dakota Johnson to star as Madame Web as part of its Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Sources report that the female-led property has been a high priority for the studio since announcing its development, but have wanted to take their time developing. The executives have reportedly been meeting with various A-listers for the past few months and that Johnson gained frontrunner status just before the end of the year.
Should Johnson land the part of Madame Web for the SSU movie, it would mark the actress' first time in the comic book film genre, as well as her first major franchise project since starring in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy for Universal. The years since have seen Johnson take on more indie and mid-budget projects, some of which include the well-received neo-noir ensemble thriller Bad Times at the El Royale, the Oscar potential psychological drama The Lost Daughter and the Sundance hit Am I OK?. Madame Web also comes as Sony continues to enjoy the success of its latest Marvel Cinematic Universe partnership for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has broken numerous box office records with its $1.74 billion haul.
Johnson entering talks for Madame Web also offers some insight into what the story for the film will entail, given the titular character is generally depicted as an elderly woman before transferring her powers to Julia Carpenter, who would later take up the mantle in the comics. The original Madame Web's death stemmed from Kraven the Hunter's descendants attempting to resurrect the supervillain, and with a Kraven movie currently set for an early January 2023 release with Aaron Taylor-Johnson attached to star for the SSU, one or both films could see some form of this storyline being adapted for Johnson's casting. While audiences await further word on Madame Web, they can look forward to the next chapter in the SSU with Morbius set to hit theaters on April 1.
Source: Deadline
