Dakota Johnson Will Play Madame Web In Sony’s Next Spider-Man Movie

Sony’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (finally) gets its first female superhero, and Dakota Johnson has been cast for the role. The 50 shades of gray actress in talks to play the main character in the spin-off about Spider-Man Madame Web.

Casting news comes as Sony releases the latest Marvel, Spider-Man: There is no way home, continues to break box office records. The blockbuster starring Tom Holland is currently at number 8 on the list of the highest-grossing films of all time.

SJ Clarkson, who directed episodes of Successor, Jessica Jones, and vinyl, will sit in the director’s chair for Madame Web. The screenplay is written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, the writers of the upcoming film, led by Jared Leto. Spiderman spinoff, Morbius.

Madame Web’s character was first introduced in 1980 in Ultimate Spiderman comic. A mutant with psychic abilities, she has served as a consultant to Spider-Man themed superheroes and is traditionally depicted as a woman who is blind, ailing, crippled and kept alive by web-like life support machines. Considering that not-so-attractive description, we assume the new film will have some creative freedom with Johnson at its center.

The actress has had a busy few months, with a critically-acclaimed role opposite Olivia Colman in Netflix’s The lost daughter, as well as two films premiering at Sundance, I agree? and Cha Cha So Smooth. The second one was sold to Apple for an impressive $15 million.

A big superhero franchise movie like Madame Web was a departure from Johnson’s usual indie fare. Her last major film role was as Anastasia Steele in the movie Unforgettable 50 shades trilogy of works.