Madame Web (film)
Madame Web | |
---|---|
File:Madame Web (film) logo.png | |
Directed by | S. J. Clarkson |
Screenplay by |
|
Story by | Kerem Sanga |
Based on | Marvel Comics |
Produced by | Lorenzo di Bonaventura |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Mauro Fiore |
Edited by | Leigh Folsom Boyd |
Music by | Johan Söderqvist |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Madame Web is an upcoming American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character of the same name, produced by Columbia Pictures and Di Bonaventura Pictures in association with Marvel Entertainment. Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is intended to be the fourth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU). The film is being directed by S. J. Clarkson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Claire Parker from a story by Kerem Sanga, and stars Dakota Johnson in the title role, alongside Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O'Connor, Isabela Merced, and Tahar Rahim.
Sony began development on a Madame Web film for its shared universe by September 2019, with Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama hired to write a script. Sanga had written an earlier draft. Clarkson joined the project in May 2020, and Johnson was cast in early 2022, followed by additional castings in the following months. Filming began in mid-July 2022, occurring in Boston and throughout Massachusetts until that September, before shooting in New York City by mid-October, and wrapped before the end of the year.
Madame Web is scheduled to be released in the United States on February 14, 2024.
Synopsis
Cassandra "Cassie" Webb is forced to confront her past while trying to survive with three young women with powerful futures.[1]
Cast
- Dakota Johnson as Cassandra "Cassie" Webb / Madame Web: a paramedic in Manhattan and a clairvoyant whose psychic abilities allow her to see within the "spider world"[2][3][4][1]
- Sydney Sweeney as Julia Carpenter / Spider-Woman[2][4]
- Celeste O'Connor as Mattie Franklin / Spider-Woman[5]
- Isabela Merced as Anya Corazon / Araña[5]
- Tahar Rahim as Ezekiel Sims[1]
Additionally, Mike Epps,[6] Emma Roberts,[7] Adam Scott,[8] and Zosia Mamet have been cast in undisclosed roles.[9]
Production
Development
After their work on the Marvel Comics-based film Morbius (2022), part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU), Sony Pictures hired Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless in September 2019 to write a script centered around the Marvel character Madame Web.[10] Sony's executive vice president Palak Patel was overseeing the project.[11] Kerem Sanga had previously written a draft for the film.[12] In May 2020, S. J. Clarkson was hired to develop and direct Sony's first female-centric Marvel film, which was reported to be Madame Web.[13][14] The studio was looking to attach a prominent actress such as Charlize Theron or Amy Adams to the project, before hiring a new writer to further develop the film with her in mind.[13] After meeting with several "A-listers" for the title role, Sony narrowed their shortlist during December 2021 and January 2022. Dakota Johnson became the frontrunner by the end of 2021, and was in talks to star as Madame Web by early February. Clarkson was confirmed to be directing Madame Web at that time.[12] In March, Sydney Sweeney was cast in the film alongside Johnson.[15] Justin Kroll of Deadline Hollywood described the project as being "Sony's version of Doctor Strange" due to Madame Web's comic book abilities, though he noted that the film could be departing from the source material since the comics version of Madame Web is an elderly woman, named Cassandra Webb, connected to a life-support system that looks like a spider web. Kroll noted because of this that the film reportedly could "turn into something else".[12] Grant Hermanns of Screen Rant noted speculation on whether Johnson was playing Cassandra Webb or the younger Julia Carpenter, who was the second character in the comics to be known as Madame Web.[16] A month later, Sony gave Madame Web a release date of July 7, 2023, and confirmed Johnson and Sweeney would star in the film.[2]
Lorenzo di Bonaventura serves as the film's producer,[17][18][1] through his production company Di Bonaventura Pictures.[19][20][21] Di Bonaventura described the film as a thriller and called the titular character's clairvoyance a "tricky skill set" that was not likely to be used for an action film. He said the studio chose to keep details on the film secretive given the character was not well known to general audiences.[18] Sweeney said the film was different from audiences' expectations of superhero films.[22]
Pre-production
In May 2022, Sony Pictures CEO and chairman Tom Rothman stated that filming would begin "in the spring",[23] and Celeste O'Connor was cast in the film, which was described as an origin story for the titular character.[3] Di Bonaventura said it would present a fresh take on the character and her origin.[17] In June, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, and Emma Roberts also joined the cast.[24][25][7] Sabina Graves of Gizmodo opined that the other actresses could be portraying "more recognizable" characters such as Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman and Gwen Stacy in a "reimagining" of the Spider-Verse comic.[26] The film had been reported to be "something else under the guise" of the Madame Web character.[27] By then, filming was set to begin in mid-July 2022.[28] Sweeney said she was "about to" start filming,[29] and she completed an athletic assessment test and read comics featuring her character Julia Carpenter to prepare for the role,[22] while Johnson was training ahead of starting filming in July.[30] Mike Epps joined the cast that month.[6]
Filming
Principal photography began on July 11, 2022,[31][32] in the Financial District of Boston through July 14, with scenes modeling 2000s New York City,[32] including Chinatown, Manhattan.[33] Filming occurred using the working title Claire,[28] with Mauro Fiore serving as cinematographer, after previously doing so for Sony's Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).[34][35] Shortly after filming started, Adam Scott joined the cast,[8] and the film's release date was delayed to October 6, 2023.[36] In late July, filming occurred in Allston at Kelton Street.[33] Zosia Mamet was cast in August.[9] Filming that month occurred in Chelsea, Massachusetts,[33] while construction of a set in Andover, Massachusetts had also begun to stand-in for the 4-Star Diner, a comics location,[33][37] and took place at baseball fields in West Andover.[37] Filming occurred in Worcester, Massachusetts for precision driving and exterior street shots in mid-September to last for three days, on various street locations,[38][39] using the working titles Claire and Peru.[38] At that time, the release was further delayed to February 16, 2024.[40] Filming was also set to take place in other areas in the South Shore of Massachusetts, including a former hangar of the Naval Air Station South Weymouth.[28] Filming in Massachusetts, particularly for the Boston unit, lasted for three months until September 2022.[28][41] The production then moved to New York City by October 11,[42] occurring at Grand Central Station,[43] and Sweeney completed filming her scenes by October 18 after a three and a half month shoot;[44] Sweeney worked on the film in Boston for five months.[22] Filming was completed before the end of the year,[45] and was confirmed to have wrapped in mid-January 2023.[46] Filming was also expected to occur in Mexico.[28]
Post-production
In March 2023, it was reported that Sweeney would be portraying Julia Carpenter,[47] which was confirmed in May along with Johnson as Webb.[4] In July, the film's release was moved forward to February 14, 2024.[48] Leigh Folsom Boyd serves as the editor, after previously working on No Way Home.[35] With the release of the first trailer in November 2023, Clarkson was revealed to have co-written the screenplay with Claire Parker, while Sanga would receive credit for the story.[1]
Release
Madame Web is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on February 14, 2024,[48] in IMAX.[40] It was previously scheduled for July 7, 2023,[2] October 6, 2023,[36] and then on February 16, 2024.[40]
In December 2022, Sony signed a long-term deal with the Canadian-based streaming service Crave for their films starting in April 2023, following the films' theatrical and home media windows. Crave signed for the "pay-one" window streaming rights, which included Madame Web.[49]
References
- ^ a b c d e D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 15, 2023). "'Madame Web': First Superhero Movie Of 2024 With Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney Drops Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c d D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 20, 2022). "'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' Heads To Summer 2023; Sony Dates 'Madame Web', 'Equalizer 3' Among Other Release Changes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (May 24, 2022). "'Madame Web': Celeste O'Connor Joins Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson in Sony's Marvel Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c Mottram, James (May 22, 2023). "Madame Web star Sydney Sweeney teases Sony movie's "powerhouse of badass females"". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Anderson, Jenna (November 15, 2023). "Madame Web Trailer Reveals First Look at Surprising Spider-Women Costumes". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (July 8, 2022). "Sony's 'Madame Web' Adds Mike Epps". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin (June 27, 2022). "'Madame Web': Emma Roberts Joins Sony Marvel Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin (July 15, 2022). "'Madame Web': Adam Scott Joins Sony's Marvel Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (August 3, 2022). "'Madame Web' Adds 'The Flight Attendant's Zosia Mamet". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (September 26, 2019). "Exclusive: Sony Taps 'Morbius' Writers for 'Madame Web' Movie Set in Spider-Man Universe". Collider. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (September 26, 2019). "Sony Developing 'Spider-Man' Spinoff 'Madame Web'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c Kroll, Justin (February 3, 2022). "'Madame Web': Dakota Johnson Tapped To Play First Female Super Hero in Sony Pictures Universe Of Marvel Characters". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin (May 20, 2020). "Secret Marvel Movie From Sony in the Works With Director S.J. Clarkson (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 21, 2020). "Marc Guggenheim Scripting Spider-Man Universe Heroine 'Jackpot' Movie For Sony Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (March 16, 2022). "'Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney To Co-Star Opposite Dakota Johnson in Sony's Marvel Pic 'Madame Web'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Hermanns, Grant (May 26, 2022). "Spider-Man Spinoff Movie Madame Web Story Details Revealed". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "Production Weekly – Issue 1305 – Thursday, June 30, 2022 / 161 Listings – 37 Pages". Production Weekly. June 29, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ Mendelsohn, Jon (September 16, 2022). "'Madame Web' Release Date Moves to Winter 2024". Collider. Archived from the original on September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ Rajput, Priyanca (July 13, 2022). "Sony-Marvel's spin-off film Madame Web begins filming in Boston". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c D'Addario, Daniel; Shafer, Ellise (August 9, 2023). "Sydney Sweeney Takes Control: The 'Euphoria' Star on 'Feeling Beat Up' by Online Rumors and Proving People Wrong in Her Producer Era". Variety. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 15, 2022). "Sony Chairman Tom Rothman Paddles Upstream To Keep Focus On Traditional Cinema – Deadline Disruptors". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (June 1, 2022). "'Madame Web': Isabela Merced Latest To Join Dakota Johnson in Sony's Marvel Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (June 3, 2022). "'Madame Web': Tahar Rahim Latest To Join Sony Marvel Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Graves, Sabina (June 27, 2022). "Sony's Baffling Madame Web Movie Weaves in Emma Roberts". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ Erao, Math (June 28, 2022). "Sony's Madame Web Movie Rumored to Secretly Be a Different Spider-Man Film". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Barbuto, Dana (June 23, 2022). "Here comes Hollywood: 'Madame Web' spinning into Boston, South Shore for three-month shoot". The Patriot Ledger. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ Atad, Corey (June 23, 2022). "Sydney Sweeney Reveals 'Madame Web' With Dakota Johnson Is Shooting Soon: 'I'm Really Excited To Start This Journey'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ Hennemuth, Britt (June 28, 2022). "Dakota Johnson on Family, Sexual Agency—And the "Psychotic" Making of Fifty Shades of Grey". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "In Production – Massachusetts Film Office". Massachusetts Film Office. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Slane, Kevin (July 13, 2022). "'Madame Web' movie filming transforms Boston into retro NYC". Boston.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Slane, Kevin (August 18, 2022). "Everything we know so far about 'Madame Web,' the superhero movie filming in Boston". Boston.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ "Mauro Fiore". Independent Media. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Bagchi, Soham (August 11, 2023). "'Madame Web': Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Everything We Know So Far". Collider. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 19, 2022). "Sony Moves 'Madame Web' To Fall 2023, Dates Marvel Universe Title For Summer 2024". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Copeland, Dave (August 8, 2022). "Marvel Movie Filming In Andover". Andover News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Semon, Craig S. (September 15, 2022). "Latest 'Spider-Man' spinoff, 'Madame Web' shooting in Worcester this week". Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ Lavery, Tréa (September 13, 2022). "Marvel's 'Madame Web' Spider-Man spinoff to film in downtown Worcester this week". MassLive. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ a b c Sharf, Zack (September 16, 2022). "Sony Announces New 'Karate Kid' Movie, Pushes 'Madame Web' and 'Kraven the Hunter'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 16, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ Slane, Kevin (July 6, 2022). "Sony-Marvel movie 'Madame Web' begins filming in Boston this month, and it needs extras". Boston.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Jenna (October 11, 2022). "Madame Web Set Photos Reveal First Look at Sydney Sweeney's Character". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Bonner, Mehera (October 12, 2022). "A Buncha Spoiler-y Pics from the 'Madame Web' Set Just Dropped!". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Sydney Sweeney Gives 'Madame Web' Filming Update (Exclusive)". Extra. October 18, 2022. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (January 11, 2023). "Sydney Sweeney And Glen Powell To Star In Sony Rom-Com From Will Gluck". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ Zogbi, Emily (January 14, 2023). "Madame Web Logo Revealed as Spider-Man Spinoff Wraps Filming". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ Dominguez, Noah (March 2, 2023). "Report: Sydney Sweeney Is Playing Marvel's Second Spider-Woman in Madame Web". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Donnelly, Matt (July 28, 2023). "'Beyond the Spider-Verse' Taken Off Sony Release Calendar as Strikes Delay 'Kraven' and 'Ghostbusters' Sequel to 2024". Variety. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (December 8, 2022). "Sony Pictures Entertainment Inks Deal With Canada's Crave For Blockbuster Movies Including 'Spider-Man', 'Madame Web', 'Jumanji'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
External links
- 2024 films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s superhero films
- 2024 directorial debut films
- 2024 science fiction action films
- 2024 thriller films
- American science fiction action films
- American superhero films
- Columbia Pictures films
- Di Bonaventura Pictures films
- Films directed by S. J. Clarkson
- Films produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
- Films shot in Boston
- Films shot in Massachusetts
- Films shot in New York City
- IMAX films
- Sony's Spider-Man Universe films
- Superheroine films
- Upcoming directorial debut films