The long-rumored Madame Web movie is moving forward at Sony. Deadline reports that Dakota Johnson, who previously led the Fifty Shades trilogy alongside Jamie Dornan, has just been cast to play the titular superhero in a solo movie for Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters. S. J. Clarkson is also reportedly on board to direct the movie, with the screenplay coming from Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless.

Plot details haven’t been revealed on the Madame Web film. Typically, the character is portrayed as an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis, keeping her confined to a life support system resembling a spider web. She doesn’t actively fight villains but assists Spider-Man as a clairvoyant. There’s also a younger version of Madame Web, a character named Julia Carpenter who gains her powers of precognition and serves as a new Madame Web when the previous one is killed. It’s not clear if Johnson is playing one of these two versions or a new incarnation.

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Madame Web is a part of Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters. This also includes the films Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, along with the upcoming Morbius. This universe does not feature its own Spider-Man as of yet, though Tom Hardy’s Venom has paid a visit to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Tom Holland, teasing a possible crossover. It remains to be seen if Spidey will also play any kind of role in the solo Madame Web film.

Dakota Johnson starred in the Fifty Shades trilogy with three movies released between 2015-18. She was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award for her work in that role. She has since appeared in the films Wounds, The Peanut Butter Falcon, and The Lost Daughter, and has several upcoming projects such as well. Certainly, however, Madame Web could be her most significant role yet.

The Madame Web Movie Has Been Rumored for Years

     Marvel

For years, there has been chatter of a Madame Web movie happening. At one point, Sandra Bullock’s name had emerged as someone in contention for the part, and she was even asked about the rumors during a Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance in 2021. She denied that she was involved, claiming, “I don’t think I’m Marvel material,” and noting she hasn’t had any talks with Marvel at all. When Kimmel described the character, Bullock actually sounded disappointed she wasn’t given a call.

“Why was I not hired for this? What happened to the talks? I need to know. Because I think I would be amazing with the psychic-ness of this,” Bullock said.

Tom Holland has also named Madame Web as a character he’d love to see Spider-Man meet in a movie. While Madame Web often helps Spider-Man in Marvel stories, Holland sees her as an interesting choice for a potential foe for Spidey, a matchup that could be just as interesting as Spider-Man vs. Kingpin.

“I think there are some interesting villains," Holland explained. “I think Madame Web could be something that is really interesting and we could do it in our own way. I’d really like to come up against Wilson Fisk.”

There’s no release date currently set for the Madame Web movie.