Speculation has run rampant about Madame Web's place in the wider Spider-Verse since it was first announced. In recent weeks, it's been billed as a "standalone" tale, though we've also heard about scrapped plans for direct links to one or more live-action Spider-Men.
Earlier this month, we caught up with director SJ Clarkson and asked whether there was ever a version of this movie which did include direct references to the wall-crawler.
You'll recall recent reports that Spider-Man was left on the cutting room floor due to timeline issues, with online scoopers claiming Madame Web once served as a prequel to The Amazing Spider-Man. As you can see below, Clarkson says she wanted to focus on the title character from the start and appears to shrug off theories about her movie having any ties to the MCU.
There are, however, a couple of very important characters directly linked to Peter Parker who do appear in the movie. We've known about them being part of Madame Web for a while now, but those of you who aren't spoiler-averse can learn their identities at the 7:00 mark of this video!
There were some great teases about the future [in this movie] but was Spider-Man ever considered for the film in any way, whether it was a flash-forward to the future or a direct reference?
Well, I think I concentrated on the fact it was called Madame Web and I was very excited about the fact we had a really strong, brilliant female superhero at the fore. What I was most excited about was the clairvoyance and the fact that hadn’t been done before. There have been many versions of many superheroes and those particular skills, but hers I think deserved its own story to be told.
I suppose a lot of fans will be thinking, with it set in 2003, that could work with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man given his age? Always something to think about for the future.
If I had clairvoyance, I could see into it!
Meanwhile, in another universe...In a switch from the typical genre, Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing's most enigmatic heroines.
The suspense-driven thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who may have clairvoyant abilities. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women destined for powerful futures...if they can all survive a deadly present.
Madame Web arrives in cinemas on February 14.