Acting in a major CGI blockbuster for the first time can be a jarring experience, no matter how talented the performer is. When the actors can’t see what they’re interacting with or responding to, even more responsibility falls on the director’s shoulders to make sure they carry the point home. Such was the case on the set of “Madame Web,” according to Dakota Johnson. “I trusted her so much,” she told Entertainment Weekly, referring to director S.J. Clarkson. “She works so hard, and she has not taken her eyes off this movie since we started.” For hopeful fans, that’s encouraging to hear. The marketing campaign for “Madame Web” hasn’t exactly been met with universal excitement, and a few choice trailer lines quickly turned into memes on the Internet.
The film faces something of an uphill battle, largely due to the SSU’s previous performance record. Neither of the “Venom” films have been critical darlings, and “Morbius” has become one of the most lambasted comic movies ever made — Sony rereleased it in cinemas just months after its initial poor run and, unsurprisingly, it flopped for a second time. Of course, trailers can’t tell the whole “Madame Web” story, and the film has plenty going for it. Its relative independence from other comic book movies might make it an appealing standalone installment, and Johnson is flanked by a number of talented young stars including “Euphoria” alum Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor.
