Sydney Sweeney, the talented actress who portrayed Julia Carpenter, aka Spider-Woman, in Sony Pictures’ Madame Web, has candidly addressed the movie’s negative reviews and lackluster box office performance. In a recent interview with GQ, Sweeney provided an in-depth and refreshingly honest perspective on the film’s reception.
Madame Web, directed by S.J. Clarkson, told the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing’s most enigmatic heroines. Alongside Dakota Johnson as the titular character, the film featured Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor as Julia Carpenter, Mattie Franklin, and Anya Corazón, respectively. These three characters are destined to become heroes with Spider-like powers of their own, and they find themselves targeted by a villainous Spider-Man lookalike known as Ezekiel Sims, played by Adam Scott, who seeks to prevent their future actions against him.
Madame Web, a Sony Pictures production based on the Marvel Comics character, faced widespread ridicule and mockery from the moment the studio released its first (and only) trailer. The negative sentiment persisted even after the movie hit theaters, with critics panning it with abysmal reviews.
While some movies manage to overcome negative buzz and emerge as box office successes, audiences proved to be as unreceptive to Madame Web as the critics. Consequently, Sony Pictures made the difficult decision to pull the film from theaters after a disappointingly short run.
Sweeney, who had previously commented on the movie’s reception, offered a candid assessment during her interview. “The movie is such a large movie with so many people involved,” the Euphoria star acknowledged. “I was just hired as an actor and happy to bring to life a character that my little cousins are excited about. There’s no outcome I can control on a film like that, especially when I’m not a producer. You sign up for whatever happens and you take the ride.”
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Despite Madame Web’s underwhelming performance, Sweeney expressed gratitude for the opportunities the film provided her. “To me, that film was a building block,” she explained. “It’s what allowed me to build a relationship with Sony. Without doing Madame Web, I wouldn’t have a relationship with the decision-makers over there.”
Sweeney further elaborated on the strategic value of her involvement in Madame Web, stating, “Everything in my career, I do not just for that story, but strategic business decisions. Because I did that, I was able to sell Anyone But You. I was able to get Barbarella.”
While Dakota Johnson, who played the lead role of Cassandra Webb, has made it clear that she has no interest in reprising her role, Sweeney seems more open to the possibility of returning as Spider-Woman. “I think that if the story is right and you have the right team, I would love to,” she said.
Despite Madame Web’s disappointing performance, Sony Pictures remains committed to its Spider-Man universe, with Kraven the Hunter, in addition to a third Venom film is set for November 8, 2024. These films may prove to be box office successes and turn things around, but if not, one must assume that the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU) is on its last legs.
At least Sydney Sweeney seems to be at peace and ready for the future.
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