Sony's upcoming Madame Web movie is still as esoteric as any of their other plans with Spider-Man, and the movie's title itself may even be a ruse. The film, as rumored, is not actually a Madame Web vehicle, but that's not the only wool being pulled over fans' eyes. Since the movie and its star got announced, it seemed that the film would feature the classic Madame Web. Now, that may no longer be the case.
As seen in the movie's recent set images, Dakota Johnson may be playing another version of the Web woman entirely. That throws out everything people expected about the film while hinting further at a multiversal Spider-Verse movie. Here's how Madame Web's choice of attire in the upcoming film may finally reveal her identity.
Dakota Johnson's Madame Web Wears Familiar Clothing
As shown in recent set images and video, Dakota Johnson's character in Sony's Madame Web is wearing a red jack suit jacket as she walks out of a building. That fits the Cassandra Web version of the figure, who usually wears red clothing. On the other hand, this outfit resembles one worn by Julia Carpenter. Carpenter was the second Spider-Woman and the second incarnation of Madame Web, replacing Cassandra Webb when she got killed by the daughter of Kraven the Hunter.
With this ensemble, it's much more likely that Johnson is playing Julia Carpenter and not Cassandra Webb. That would put many fan questions about the nature of the movie to bed, even if it does raise others. Many wondered how a Madame Web movie would work given that Cassandra Webb, the traditional version of the heroine, is an older woman. That's clearly not the version that Johnson is playing, even if this movie is an origin story set in the past. But by having Johnson play the much more mobile Julia Carpenter, the potential opens up for several other Spider-Ladies to spin their web on the big screen.
Madame Web Movie Makes More Sense if It Features Julia Carpenter
Julia Carpenter's run-ins with Spider-Man following her becoming the new Madame Web had her also facing characters such as Silver Sable and even Morbius. One of those characters is already infamously introduced in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, while some suspect that Sydney Sweeney or Emma Roberts is playing Silver Sable. Given this narrative DNA, one theory about the Madame Web movie may come true. One prevailing fan idea is that the films will have Cassandra Webb summoning Spider-Women from different periods and universes to combat some threat, with Julia Carpenter possibly being one of them.
That is all backed up further by the fact that most information on the internet only succinctly casts Dakota Johnson as Madame Web, not specifically the Cassandra Webb version. Thus, the door is wide open for her to be Julia Carpenter. If that's the case, the movie's title could still be Madame Web without being a cop-out, with Carpenter taking the role after Cassandra's death in the film's climax. Unfortunately, fans have to wait over a year to see how these disparate puzzle pieces will come together.
To see who Dakota Johnson is really playing, Madame Web hits theaters Oct. 6, 2023.