The upcoming Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Madame Web is set to introduce a new group of spider-person heroes in the Marvel Universe that will be led by Dakota Johnson's Cassandra Webb.
Since the project's announcement, fans have been wondering about how the film will portray the titular character considering that the source material does not usually present her as a superhero and is always shown as an elderly woman, a huge contrast to Johnson's youthful age.
The trailers and promotional materials for the film have eventually confirmed that Johnson's character is going to be portrayed as a superhero and they will be taking a massive detour from the comics in tackling her origin story.
Also Read: Dakota Johnson Gets Brutally Honest About Her Madame Web Filming Experience
The Origins of Madame Web in the Comics
The Cassandra Webb iteration of the character made her debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #210 in November 1980. She was created by writer Denny O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr.
In the comics, she is usually portrayed as an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis and has clairvoyant and precognitive mutant abilities. She is also connected to a life support system that resembles a spiderweb.
Madame Web is always presented as a supporting character in Spider-Man's adventures and never had any superhero duties throughout her multiple comic appearances.
However, that won't be the case when we see her in the upcoming film since she is going to be portrayed as a young spider-person hero.
Is Madame Web Related to Spider-Man?
Madame Web is only related to Spider-Man as a supporting character in his adventures, but they don't have any familial connections.
It will be similar to the upcoming film as it will focus more on the character as a standalone figure and leader of spider-power heroes that also consist of Julia Carpenter, Mattie Franklin, and Anya Corazon.
"I loved the psychological, cerebral nature. Not to sound too wanky about it, but it’s about what’s going on in [Cassie’s] head and her grappling with that," the film's director S.J. Clarkson explained the character's arc to Entertainment Weekly.
"Is she going insane? Is this real? She’s battling with that within herself and trying to understand it."
Johnson also added, "It was really important to me that she’s really human and grounded in reality, and that her life feels like, 'Oh, I can relate to that.'"
So far, we don't have an official confirmation yet if the film will reference Spider-Man in some capacity, but we can certainly say that the character will stand on her without relying on the hero that she's always been associated with.
Madame Web is set to release in theaters this February 14.
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