There's a suspicion among comic book fans that Sony Pictures is allowing the actors they hire to think they're joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We've seen actors cast in what's been called Sony's Universe of Marvel Characters tag Marvel Studios in social posts so there's definitely confusion there.
Madame Web star Dakota Johnson was one of them and, in an interview with L'Officiel USA, she recalled turning to MCU veteran Elizabeth Olsen for advice. She plays the Scarlet Witch for Marvel Studios, most recently appearing in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
"When I got the Madame Web role, I ran into Lizzie Olsen in the hotel lobby and spoke to her about it for a bit, and that was helpful," Johnson explains. "She said she had a great time and...seemed very relaxed about it, so that was comforting."
What Johnson might have missed is the fact Olsen had "a great time" working with Marvel Studios, not Sony Pictures. In fact, the Madame Web lead isn't the only one to have made this mistake.
Doing the rounds to promote Morbius in 2022, Matt Smith recalled turning to his Doctor Who co-star Karen Gillan (who plays Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise) and asking for her advice on joining the Marvel Universe.
"I phoned Karen and said, 'What's it like? Have you had a nice time?' and she's like, 'Yeah, go for it, do it'. So I did," he said at the time. "Good old Kaz. I mean, she's a seasoned pro, she's made about 9 of them." Again, that's nine MCU movies, not nine set in the SUMC!
So far, that slate has consisted of Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, and the upcoming Madame Web. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse fall under the Sony Pictures banner, albeit Sony Pictures Animation.
You can check out our interview with Madame Web director SJ Clarkson in the player below.
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.