Given Sony Pictures' largely dismal track record with Marvel, most fans didn't have particularly high expectations for Madame Web. So, when the movie debuted with 12% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned only $100.3 million at the worldwide box office, it wasn't exactly a shock.
Despite boasting an impressive cast and a director with superhero experience in SJ Clarkson (Jessica Jones, The Defenders), little to nothing about Madame Web worked and it's now destined to be remembered as one of the worst superhero movies ever made.
Many cast members will rebound and some, unfortunately, will not.
In the case of Isabela Merced, she's quickly moved on from Madame Web thanks to roles in Alien: Romulus, The Last of Us season 2, and Superman. Talking to Josh Horowitz, the actress reflected on her brief Marvel experience.
"I'd say...I feel like every actor I know and admire has that one movie where it's so camp. It's so camp [Laughs]," Merced started. "The group chat was fun after. All the Tweets that would come out and the memes we would see made the group chat very fun."
"But at the same time, it does [leave] a sad taste in my mouth because there were people that worked on it who worked really hard. Maybe this was their opportunity to have a big break and I can't help but think about the people who put in the work. I'm lucky enough to have other opportunities right now."
"That's what I feel really blessed about but I do feel bad for the other people who put their all into this," she continued. "There [were] so many cooks in the kitchen. Even though you might mean well, someone else might not understand the assignment."
Despite that, Merced isn't letting Madame Web's failings get to her. "I do have a soft spot in my heart [for it]. Honestly, I love The Room. I love Flubber. I love Catwoman. Those are my favourites. I'm a little proud of it in that sense. I'm really glad we had each other."
There's no doubt a story to be told when it comes to what happened behind the scenes with Madame Web. Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Emma Roberts, and Merced have all addressed the movie's failings; Clarkson, however, has not.
Neither has Celeste O'Connor who, between this and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, hasn't had a good 2024. She did a great job as Mattie Franklin and it's easy to imagine her being one of the people Merced refers to above.
You can watch the full interview below.