Dakota Johnson Blames ‘Madame Web’ on Uncreative Filmmakers

Dakota Johnson has blamed a lack of creativity for Madame Web’s poor performance.

In the 2024 superhero movie, the 35-year-old actress portrayed Cassie Web, a paramedic who gained psychic powers after an accident. However, the film was met with both critical and commercial flops. Dakota maintains that she’s not to blame for the movie’s downfall, stating that it transformed into something different from its original concept after she had agreed to take on the project.

She expressed to the Los Angeles Times: “I’m not to blame. Nowadays, many creative choices are being made by committees or individuals lacking any artistic instinct. It’s challenging to produce art or something enjoyable under such conditions.

Unfortunately, Madame Web didn’t stay true to its original concept and evolved into something different. I essentially went along with it, but such changes happen. High-budget films flop frequently.

Johnson insisted she doesn’t “have a Band-Aid over it” and isn’t too worried about the experience.

She stated: “I don’t have a piece of myself thinking, ‘I’ll never do that again.’ I’ve been involved in small films that didn’t succeed. So what?

Earlier, Johnson indicated that she might not direct another superhero movie after the challenges encountered during the production of Madame Web.

She shared with Bustle: “I’d never taken on anything similar before, and I likely won’t again as I just don’t fit in there. I’ve come to realize this… At times in this field, you commit to a project thinking it’s one way, but as you progress, it transforms into something else entirely, leaving you puzzled, like ‘Hang on, what happened?’ However, it was an enlightening experience, and though it’s unpleasant to be involved in something that gets heavily criticized, I can’t deny that I grasp the situation.

Actress from “Fifty Shades of Grey” has criticized movie executives for abandoning production of “daring” films.

During a Kering Women in Motion Talk at Cannes, alongside her producing partner Ro Donnelly before the premiere of their gritty film Splitsville, she expressed: “There are some industry professionals who lack the inclination to create projects that are distinctive, daring, unsettling, dangerous, authentic, and humanly messy.

The Best Spider-Man Movie Never Made

Peter Parker’s Parents

In various iterations of the Spider-Man narrative, Peter Parker is consistently portrayed as an orphan raised by his Aunt May, with the death of his Uncle Ben serving as a pivotal moment that motivates him to utilize his powers for humanity’s benefit. Initially, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko only hinted at Peter’s parents in early issues of Amazing Spider-Man, but their absence became increasingly significant over time and eventually served as a key plot twist. It was later revealed that Peter wasn’t abandoned or that his parents had died in a tragic accident, but instead, he discovered they were spies who were murdered for their work.

Similarly, the Spider-Man films directed by Sam Raimi didn’t delve deeply into Peter’s family background, but an earlier draft of David Koepp’s script did incorporate their deaths as a critical subplot and inciting incident. In this version, May presents Peter with a letter from his parents at his birthday party, which reveals that they were scientists working for the Department of Defense who had developed powerful technology known as “neogenic”. They believed it was too dangerous to hand over to the government and decided to leave it for Peter to decide what to do with once he became an adult.

This concept is somewhat peculiar since it’s hard to imagine how Peter’s parents could have known that their child would grow up to be a scientist or that he wouldn’t turn out to be selfish. The final film omitted any mention of Peter’s parents or their research, but a version of this plot element was used as a subplot in the Amazing Spider-Man films starring Andrew Garfield.

Dr. Octavius, I Presume…

In the movie Spider-Man 2, Doctor Octopus was initially planned to be the main villain, but was held back for the sequel due to the film already having too many origin stories. The version of Dr. Octopus portrayed by Koepp is distinct from Alfred Molina’s character, who is a once noble scientist corrupted by his mechanical arms’ artificial intelligence. In this version of the Amazing Spider-Man script, Ock pretends to be a friendly colleague of Peter’s parents to gain his trust, only to later reveal that he was the one who killed them years prior and stole their research. This research, an “image refractor” used in neogenics, was what Ock wanted because the Parkers prioritized morality over science. When Peter learns the truth about Octavius, Spider-Man gets involved, leading to the lab accident that fused the robot arms to Ock’s body. Unfortunately, this personal connection and rivalry between Peter and Ock is an interesting concept, but making Ock a typical power-hungry villain is less complex than Molina’s nuanced antagonist.

Spider-Man No More!

In this adaptation, both versions draw inspiration from a legendary comic series, “Amazing Spider-Man” issue 50, titled “Spider-Man No More!”, where Peter Parker temporarily abandons his superhero identity and discards his Spider-Man suit. Sam Raimi’s movie uses Peter’s power loss as a symbol of his self-doubt, resolving when he rediscovers his heroic purpose and regains his abilities. Conversely, Koepp’s script makes the enigma behind Peter’s power loss and the quest for a remedy crucial plot points.

Koepp’s script introduces Dr. Connors, Peter’s college professor, who explains that the spider that bit Peter in the original “Spider-Man” comics lost its powers over time. The scientists were unable to find an explanation. This creates a sense of urgency, as it appears Peter may have no other option but to retire from his role as Spider-Man permanently. However, Koepp resolves this plot thread in an unexpected way: when Peter is desperate and out of options, he pleads with Connors to revisit his research notes. Upon doing so, Connors realizes a seemingly simple error – the spiders were calcium deficient. With this newfound knowledge, Peter must steal milk from a child to save himself in a whimsical scene reminiscent of Raimi’s style.

While endearing, this resolution feels somewhat contrived. The world’s top scientific minds couldn’t uncover the solution until a college student asked for another look and then discovered it was just a calcium deficiency? It seems far-fetched that the answer would be as simple as providing milk. This plot thread appears to lack an organic resolution, stretching credibility.

Harry Osborn

In the comic book adaptation of “Amazing Spider-Man,” Harry’s plot closely resembles his storyline from “Spider-Man 2.” Following the demise of his father in the initial movie, Harry becomes increasingly wary and vengeful towards Peter, with a focus on bringing down Spider-Man. In both narratives, Harry employs Doctor Octopus to further his schemes, albeit with a significant twist.

In Sam Raimi’s film, Mary Jane nearly marries John Jameson before recognizing her true love lies with Peter. Conversely, in the “Amazing Spider-Man” script, it’s Harry who is set to marry a woman he barely knows at a climactic wedding ceremony. However, when Doctor Octopus disrupts the event, Harry prioritizes protecting Mary Jane over his bride, ultimately leading to her abandonment at the altar.

Introducing Gwen Stacy

In Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, the majority of the classic Spidey cast and tales from the comics were brought to life on the big screen, such as Peter Parker’s ill-fated girlfriend Gwen Stacy and her father, Captain Stacy. These characters were initially introduced in Spider-Man 3 but did not significantly contribute to the main plot, instead feeling like additions made to appease fans who had been requesting them for three films. However, if Koepp’s script had been used for Spider-Man 2, both characters would have played significant roles in that film. In the Amazing Spider-Man screenplay, Gwen becomes a formidable rival to Mary Jane, as she is Peter’s classmate in Dr. Connors’ seminar and they quickly start dating, causing friction between MJ and further confusing Peter about his own feelings. Later, Gwen invites Peter to meet her family, including her father.

Spider-Man — The Killer!

As a passionate cinephile, I must say that unlike the seemingly insignificant Captain Stacy in Spider-Man 3, portrayed by James Cromwell, David Koepp’s script elevates him to a much more substantial character. In our initial dinner with Peter, he delivers a heartfelt speech explaining his staunch opposition to vigilantes like Spider-Man, regardless of their perceived nobility or selflessness.

Later in the narrative, Captain Stacy tragically meets his end in a scene strikingly similar to the iconic storyline from Amazing Spider-Man #90. In both the comics and Koepp’s script, our valiant Captain Stacy gives up his life heroically while shielding a child from debris falling from a building during a battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. With his final breaths, he reveals his knowledge of Peter’s true identity and implores him to look after Gwen for him.

In the Amazing Spider-Man movie with Andrew Garfield as Peter and Denis Leary as George Stacy, a version of this scene did occur; however, it was overshadowed by the ludicrous plot involving lizard monsters terrorizing New York City. Consequently, the emotional impact of that moment was significantly diminished. On the other hand, Koepp’s adaptation is far more true to the source material and carries a much greater weight.

Everyone Loves an Unhappy Ending

In a different tone, let me say that while I believe “Spider-Man 2” surpasses its predecessor in many aspects, I have a soft spot for the conclusion of the first “Spider-Man”. Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson share a classic Stan Lee and Steve Ditko moment when she confesses her love, but he must reject her due to his power and responsibility. This scene is reminiscent of numerous issues from their original comics. (Although it’s typically Betty Brant who experiences heartbreak instead of MJ.)

Conversely, “Spider-Man 2” offers a rare joyful ending for the couple as Mary Jane discovers Peter’s identity and chooses him over her fiancé. The original script by Koepp, however, aligns more closely with the classic Lee and Ditko narrative. MJ gets closer to uncovering Peter’s dual life, but never fully learns the truth. In the end, despite expressing his love for Mary Jane, Peter remains in a relationship with Gwen Stacy, struggling with unhappiness and haunted by the memory of her father’s death.

All classic Spider-Man stories follow this pattern: Triumph for Spider-Man or Peter Parker often comes at the expense of others. Koepp’s script captures that essence perfectly. Though “Spider-Man 2” is outstanding, the screenplay’s conclusion might even be superior.

A Signature Spidey Moment

As a cinephile, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities between some key scenes in “Spider-Man 2” and the script written by David Koepp, despite him not being officially credited for the movie. For instance, the iconic moment where Mary Jane queries Peter about his identity at a New York coffee shop, only for Doctor Octopus to shatter the peace by hurling a cab through the restaurant’s window – this scene is strikingly similar to Koepp’s original script. Moreover, the dramatic slow-motion action that director Sam Raimi utilized in the film was also described in a similar fashion in Koepp’s script.

2025-06-06 18:25