MADAME WEB Trailer Breakdown: Making Sense Of The Weird Spider-Verse Team-Up Movie

MADAME WEB Trailer Breakdown: Making Sense Of The Weird Spider-Verse Team-Up Movie

Following the release of the first Madame Web trailer earlier today, we're taking a deep dive into the footage to make sense of what happens and Sony's future plans for its live-action Spider-Verse...

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Nov 15, 2023 01:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Madame Web

Earlier today, Sony Pictures released the first trailer for Madame Web. The movie doesn't quite look as we expected and, with the Morbius writers no longer involved, there's a chance it will exceed expectations. 

Well, not a strong chance. 

We've already explained why getting excited about those comic-accurate costumes could be a mistake, but in this trailer breakdown, we're setting out to make sense of this female-led team-up. All of these characters appearing in live-action is long overdue; however, this is another Sony movie which looks to be taking major liberties with the source material to tell an "original" story. 

So, to dive into the biggest reveals and comic book references, along with an in-depth guide for who everyone is and what's going on, simply click on the "Next" button below...
 

7. Madame Web's Unique Powers

F-4-o-Obw-AERK1d

In the comics, Cassandra Webb is a paralyzed, blind, telepathic, clairvoyant, and precognitive mutant. She uses those abilities to become a media and spends her days hooked up to a life support system which includes a series of tubes shaped like a spider-web. 

Needless to say, Dakota Johnson's version is none of those things, though this is her origin story. Sony is taking some big leaps here, veering away from the source material and combining Cassandra with Julia Carpenter, the second Madame Web. 

This Madame Web can see future events and, with that knowledge, change what happens. It's an approach which makes her a little more proactive than her comic book counterpart, though a later scene suggests she may have spider-like powers to go with those psychic abilities based on how she catches that piece of debris. 
 

6. Uncle Ben, Is That You?

F-4y2ebo-AAfvzy

Rumour has it Adam Scott is playing Ben Parker, with Emma Roberts set to play his sister-in-law, Mary. There's absolutely nothing in this trailer to suggest this is a young Uncle Ben, though, and Roberts simply doesn't appear (she's on the cast list so hasn't been cut). 

Robert was previously spotted on set looking pregnant. As a result, it's possible Cassandra knowing Ben initially appears to be a coincidence, only for the fact her life is intertwined with the Parker family to become a big part of whatever comes next. After all, it looks like he saves her life in the accident which unlocks her powers!

If Madame Web did have any significant ties to Spider-Man, they'd have no doubt been all over the trailer. However, Avi Arad is keen to get his hands back on the wall-crawler, and with Tom Holland off limits to him thanks to Marvel Studios, perhaps this universe is about to get its own Peter Parker Variant
 

5. Evil Spider-Man

F-46tgb-AAAHSu9

No, that's not the Spider-Man and it certainly isn't Venom. Instead, Sony has taken Ezekiel Sims and made him a full-blown villain. We'll get to his mission a little later (and what that means for the Spider-Verse moving forward), but he appears to have all of Spider-Man's powers and, coincidentally, a very similar suit. 

In the comics, a young Ezekiel took part in a ritual which granted him the powers of a Spider-Totem. Rather than become a superhero, he amassed a fortune and only tracked Peter down when his life was in danger. A mentor to Spidey for a time, his true nature was later revealed when he tried to sacrifice Peter in his place. 

Despite being a big part of JMS' Amazing Spider-Man run, Ezekiel is arguably obscure enough for Sony to get away with a pretty drastic reinvention. The costume is new, but the fact he's barefoot and that suit are both comic-accurate. 
 

4. An Unexpected Setting

F-48-JRb-YAAid-Na

We suspected this might be the case after seeing set photos, but the events of Madame Web are indeed playing out in the mid-to-late 2000s. There's a guy on the subway with a PSP and both the fashion and signage point to this story taking place in the past. The question is, why?

Well, as Ezekiel is attempting to avoid being killed in the future (which appears to be the present day), it makes sense for Sony to use this movie as a prequel, of sorts, to its other live-action Spider-Verse offerings. Plus, if a baby Peter does come into play, then it allows him to be a teen in future projects. 

It may also be a way to make it so that the next time we see Madame Web, she's quite a bit older and more in line with her comic book counterpart. It's all a bit strange, though oddly fitting that a movie set in the mid-2000s looks like it was also made around that time. Avi gonna Avi...
 

3. Spider-Women

F-4u3-Bb0-AANJL2

So, let's get to the exciting part of this sneak peek. The three young women Cassandra Web sets out to save are Julia Carpenter (Sydney Sweeney), Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor), and Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced). In the comics, they're typically known as Spider-Woman, Spider-Girl, and Araña, respectively.

They've all crossed paths with Cassandra but don't have powers at this stage and, if this trailer is any indication, Ezekiel's intervention may have closed the door on them ever getting them. It seems they attack and kill him in the future, suggesting the villain believes he must kill the trio to save himself and the world. 

That makes him a suitably deluded big bad, but what about those costumes? They're all shockingly comic-accurate, but we only expect to see them in brief flash-forwards. Set photos have shown the Spider-Women in their regular street clothes during the final battle, so if they do suit up, it likely won't be until the final scene.
 

2. "He Was In The Amazon With My Mom When She Was Researching Spiders"

F-46t8a4-AAsa-TS

This might be among the worst lines of dialogue in comic book movie history, but it does at least shed some light on Ezekiel's origin story. Like the version on the page, it seems he'll stumble on something which grants him Spider-Man's powers and, for some reason, precognitive abilities. 

However, as Cassandra's mom was pregnant around this time, we're guessing the ritual inadvertently gave her child psychic abilities which weren't unlocked until the paramedic almost drowned. However, that connection with Ezekiel seems to awaken something in him as well, hence why it's now he targets Julia, Mattie, and Anya. 

We're not surprised to see Sony dream up a suitably convoluted origin story for Madame Web. The same thing happened in Morbius, though we do think this could be leading to an exploration of the Spider-Verse which sets the stage for...well, we don't want to say exciting stories, but definitely, uh, stories. 
 

1. Ezekiel's Mission

F-4u2qa-AAAS6a-L

So, by now, we've established that Ezekiel wants to kill the future Spider-Woman because, ultimately, they kill him. Chances are the big "twist" will be that they're trying to save the villain or only attacking him because he's done something terrible and just doesn't know it yet. 

In Madame Web, they don't have their powers and that's going to leave Cassandra to use her newfound psychic - and spider - abilities to stop him. Will she be blinded in the fight? Are Ezekiel's actions why Sony's live-action Spider-Verse doesn't have a Spider-Man or will it be here he's first introduced? 

We don't know the answers to those questions quite yet, though it's apparent the movie will have major ramifications for this non-MCU franchise moving forward. Maybe the rumours of Venom 3 featuring a 5-year-old Peter are true. Alternatively, we may see the baby Peter sent to Earth-616!

Honestly, we don't think any of this going to end well...

Sydney Sweeney Reportedly Agreed To Make MADAME WEB To Convince Sony To Greenlight ANYONE BUT YOU
Related:

Sydney Sweeney Reportedly Agreed To Make MADAME WEB To Convince Sony To Greenlight ANYONE BUT YOU

MADAME WEB Star Sydney Sweeney Reveals Impressive Transformation For Upcoming Role As Boxer Christy Martin
Recommended For You:

MADAME WEB Star Sydney Sweeney Reveals Impressive Transformation For Upcoming Role As Boxer Christy Martin

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2 3
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 11/15/2023, 1:24 PM
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 11/15/2023, 1:34 PM
@KennKathleen -



HistoryofMatt
HistoryofMatt - 11/15/2023, 1:27 PM
I love how Josh and his laters are trying to s--t all over this movie, but to me, it looks more interesting than almost everything Disney / Marvel has s--t out since Endgame.

You mean we have a film led by four women, and it isn't full of Woke Grrrrrl Power Mary Sue I'm better than every man I see garbage? Color me intrigued!

Given that, of course Josh and his alters hate it.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/15/2023, 1:32 PM
@HistoryofMatt - everything mid seems interesting to you, and that's totally fine lol
Origame
Origame - 11/15/2023, 1:34 PM
@HistoryofMatt - ...and then b!tch to us for not being "more positive" as a Fandom only when it involves the mcu.

I've been saying, this movie and the hate surrounding it proves so much of the bs they've been spewing. Especially when it comes to female led superhero movies.
HistoryofMatt
HistoryofMatt - 11/15/2023, 1:42 PM
@bobevanz - It could be bad. I'm not saying it won't be. What I'm saying is, I'm willing to give any movie a chance if it's not Woke garbage.

Birds of Prey was Woke garbage. The Marvels is Woke garbage.

This movie looks like it's trying to tell a story without Woke nonsense in it, and that intrigues me. All you NPCs default to, "yOu JuSt DoN't LiKe WoMeN oR mInOrItIeS!" strawmen arguments when those of us who hate Disney's Woke garbage just say we want to see interesting films regardless of who acts or directs them. Try for quality first. Try for interesting first. Disney-Marve-Lucasfilm put Woke first and all they make, other than an Andor or a a Guardians 3, is garbage now.

What I am is consistent. I don't care if a genre movie is led by a black woman or a gay man. I don't. It's the least consideration to me, as it should be to anyone, because immutable characteristics DON'T MATTER. All I care about is quality. And if the filmmakers and actors and production company is making a movie with that first in mind, I'll give them a chance.

Because I'm dying for non-Woke movies and television right now. Begging for it. Praying for it.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/15/2023, 1:27 PM
I just dont get it. Surely Sony is allowed to do their own spiderman along side then loaning it to the MCU.

It just seems so weird that arad is pushing all these spider verse characters without the glue that brings them all together...
Origame
Origame - 11/15/2023, 1:36 PM
@UniqNo - do we have the full detail on the deal?

It's also possible they're trying to figure out a way to get Holland Peter into the venomverse for crossovers.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/15/2023, 1:49 PM
@Origame - It surely can't be a 1 way street though?.. having Sony's established Spiderverse characters showing up in an MCU movie but only a brief tag of Holland's Spider-Man show up in Venom 2 for a second?

It's probably on a picture to picture deal after Far From Home, but with all the multiverse shit going on now would be a perfect time to bring spidey in, or even reintroduce Garfield's version in that world instead of a whole new one and actually developed that properly rather than throwing together quick cash grabs like this, Morbius and Kraven They just seem to be tarnishing their own brand.
Origame
Origame - 11/15/2023, 1:54 PM
@UniqNo - it's hard to say. I know at first the idea was venom was in the mcu but it was purely for spiderman crossovers. Somehow that didn't pan out, so then venom 2 and morbius made it clear this is a different universe and the crossovers were being done via multiverse shenanigans.

I think it's less of them having a deal and more just two companies trying to figure out the logistics of it.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/15/2023, 1:58 PM
@Origame - Maybe that's right for Marvel studio's side...but it doesn't look like sony/arad cares too much. As long as it's not spiderman himself they seem to do what they want with the other characters, going for big names to sell the movie and consider the story second.
HammerLegFoot
HammerLegFoot - 11/15/2023, 1:29 PM
It isn't clear to everyone that they are setting up Ben Riley?
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 11/15/2023, 2:14 PM
@HammerLegFoot - What makes you think that? That could be cool of they do.
Gabimaru
Gabimaru - 11/15/2023, 1:29 PM
The only redeemable thing about this trailer was Sydney Sweeney's spidey suit and it's a shame, she could be a great black cat to be honest.
1 2 3

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder