It's been clear from the start that Sony Pictures isn't exactly adhering to the comic books with Madame Web, but the plot has thickened with another round of photos from the movie's set.
As you can see below, Dakota Johnson's character has been seen racing into action alongside Adam Scott...dressed as paramedics. There's been speculation online that Scott might be playing a Peter Parker Variant, but it's safe to say these photos debunk the theory.
As for Johnson, neither the Cassandra Webb nor Julia Carpenter versions of Madame Web have ever had that job. The more we see from this movie, though, the clearer it becomes that its writers (who also penned Morbius) are putting a completely different spin on the psychic hero who has never really been much more than a minor Spider-Man supporting character.
As a result, we're not expecting much from Madame Web, but these photos are intriguing.
Sony Pictures continues to reinvent its Marvel characters, and while Aaron Taylor-Johnson recently attempted to back peddle on his recent Kraven the Hunter comments, it's clear that his take on the villain won't be too villainous. Still, there's room to reinterpret Madame Web's story given her relatively small role in the Marvel Universe, but whether that will work remains to be seen.
However, with what appears to be an early 2000s setting, it might be fun if Madame Web is tasked with protecting Mary Parker (Emma Roberts' pregnant character), only to fail, robbing this world of Spider-Man in the process. That's just a theory, though, and we don't actually know how important this movie will be to Sony's wider Marvel Universe.
S.J. Clarkson (The Defenders) is directing Madame Web from a screenplay by Morbius scribes Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. The movie is currently expected to swing into theaters on July 7, 2023.