Dakota Johnson had a single emoji to share in response to her casting as the lead role in Sony's Madame Web.The Fifty Shades of Grey star shared a single spider-web emoji to her Instagram story shortly after it was reported that she would portray the leading role in Sony's upcoming Spider-Man spinoff film, Madame Web. With Johnson playing the eponymous character, Madame Web will also be the first female-led Sony Spider-Verse film.
Based on recent rumors, Sony Pictures is planning to start filming for Madame Web sometime in 2022, though a start date has not been specified, and the rumors remain unconfirmed. A Madame Web film was first reported in 2019, with Morbius writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless attached to pen the script.
Cassandra Webb, aka Madame Webb, made her Marvel Comics debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #210 in 1980, written by Denny O'Neil and John Romita Jr. As a mutant, Cassandra's abilities range from telepathy to clairvoyance, though she suffers from myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease that left her blind, paralyzed and on life support. Despite her condition, she was also to use her abilities as a medium to help heroes like Spider-Man and, before her death, transferred her power to Julia Carpenter, who was the second incarnation of Spider-Woman and, subsequently, the second Madame Web. The character has also been used in other media to unite Spider-People from other worlds.
Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal recently explained where Sony's Spider-Man spinoff films -- which include Morbius, Venom and, now, Madame Web -- stand in relation to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Well, there's the Marvel Universe, which is one container and then there's the Spider-Verse movies, which are different and then there's the other universe where the Sony characters are in," she said. "We all are very respectful of each other and work together and make sure that we're only being additive."
Sony Pictures began its franchise of live-action Marvel spinoffs with films centered around Spider-Man villains, starting with 2018's Venom, with upcoming installments including Morbius and Kraven the Hunter. Sony recently added two "Untitled Sony/Marvel Universe" films to its 2023 release schedule, which are expected to release in theaters on June 23, 2023 and Oct. 6, 2023, respectively. At the time, fans speculated that one of those films could be the sequel to Venom: Let There Be Carnage. However, along with Madame Web, Sony is also rumored to be developing The Sinister Six and another film directed by Olivia Wilde, which is said to feature Spider-Woman.
Madame Web does not yet have a release date.
Source: Twitter