Sony Pictures’ Universe of Marvel Characters film “Madame Web” opened earlier this year and now, several months on, is more famous for its memes than the film itself.
A major critical and commercial failure, the film has been mostly disavowed by those involved – some even as it was in cinemas. The film’s lead star Dakota Johnson has subsequently said she would “never do something like that again”.
Co-star Sydney Sweeney was more diplomatic and practical, saying it gave her in an in at Sony Pictures and she learned from the experience. Either way there’s a general sense studio interference caused whatever the original vision was for the project to collapse.
One person also in the cast was Emma Roberts. Roberts had a small role as Mary Parker, pregnant sister-in-law to Adam Scott’s Ben Parker who was the work partner of Johnson’s lead character. Asked to reflect on the film’s failure by Variety, Roberts answered like the seasoned pro she is:
“Things work; things don’t work. Everyone likes to act like they can predict if they’re going to work or they’re not. And the truth is, you can’t. Things do badly, and then they blow up later on TikTok. Things do well, but then you watch them, and you’re like, ‘This did well?’
There is no secret. It’s about doing something goodish and it hitting at the right time. Everything else is like a wish and a prayer. I’m not intimidated by failure, and I’m not intimidated by people having negative thoughts about something.
I personally really loved ‘Madame Web.’ I really enjoyed the movie. I thought everyone in it was great. The director, S.J. Clarkson, I think did an amazing job. She’s the reason I wanted to do that movie.
If it wasn’t for internet culture and everything being made into a joke, I think that the reception would’ve been different. And that’s what bums me out about a lot of stuff, even stuff that I’ve done, is people just make such a joke out of everything now.
Johnson starred in the film as Cassandra Webb, a young paramedic who develops clairvoyant powers and sees three young women she’s crossed paths with – Sydney Sweeney’s Julia Cornwall, Isabela Merced’s Anya Corazon and Celeste O’Connor’s Mattie Franklin – are being hunted by a masked man (Tahar Rahim).
“Madame Web” is available to watch on Netflix.
