Highly awaited Sony Pictures’ Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson based on the Marvel character of the same name was recently released. The fourth movie in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe was directed by S.J. Clarkson and also starred Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Adam Scott and more. The movie follows Cassie Webb who is forced to confront her past and at the same time try to save three young women from Ezekiel Sims.
The movie was released on 14th February 2024 and has received negative reviews from the critics as well as the audience compared to what the team had expected. Madame Web in its early reviews was dubbed as the ‘worst comic book movie’ yet according to Forbes and has only managed to have a 13% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The failure of Madame Web has been said to affect Sony’s upcoming Spider-Man series.
Silk: Spider Society’s writers’ room reportedly scrapped due to Madame Web’s failure?
According to reports by The Ankler, the hotly anticipated TV series Silk: Spider Society has decided to let go of its writers’ room as the series will be undergoing a development overhaul. Showrunner Angela Kang who has a multi-year overall deal with Amazon is still involved with the project.
The reports further suggested that producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller along with co-executive producers Kai Wu and Jim Barnes who were attached to the projects since its inception will still be involved. Silk: Spider Society was centered around Korean-American heroine Cindy Moon, who was reportedly bitten by the same spider that bit Peter Parker, and goes in search of her family.
However, the reports have now suggested that the makers are now refocusing the story on the male-skewing audience. One of the reasons is that Prime Video has success with several male-skewing series including Jack Ryan, Reacher, etc. Dakota Johnson’s recent release of Madame Web’s failure at the box office and opening to negative reviews also could be one of the reasons why the makers are now refocusing the story on male-skewing audiences.
Back in 2023, President of Sony Pictures Television Studios; Katherine Pope during an interview with Deadline spoke about the Spider-Man universe expanding on Amazon’s MGM+ and Prime Video;
“It’s a huge focus certainly for all of us here, and for me in particular. I was already a fan of Angela Kang, so I’m really, really excited to be working with her on Silk. She’s just brilliant and a total pro. This is also an example of working really closely with Tom Rothman and Sanford Panitch, and the motion picture group, to make sure that we are in lockstep with them and also executing at the same level.”
Pope added that they have done such an incredible job with the franchise, which is why they are excited and thrilled to be working with them to develop the Spider-Man universe for TV.
Fans react to Madame Web’s negative review affecting Silk: Spider Society writers’ room
Dakota Johnson along with the makers of Madame Web not only had high expectations from the movie but also said that Cassie Webb’s story is not a typical superhero story. Johnson mentioned in one of her interviews that the audience might watch the movie twice because it’s so good but upon its release, it has only managed to receive a negative response.
Fans have pointed out that the reports of Silk: Spider Society writer’s room being scrapped along with the makers now focusing on a more male-skewing audience could be a direct effect of the failure of the Madame Web. They have shared their opinions on the same with a user noting, ‘They saw the reactions and reviews for Madame Web and folded.’
they saw the reactions and reviews for Madame Web and folded 💀 pic.twitter.com/Y05Tl8GDif
— ً (@tylerduran21) February 17, 2024
Sony needs to sell the rights away, Disney at least puts effort and budget into their movies lol. These Spiderman universe films are weiner.
— Alex (RANGERS WORLD SERIES CHAMPS🔥🔥🔥) (@DFWAlex2289) February 17, 2024
After the disaster that is Madame Web, this is no shock. Sony really needs to reevaluate their live action films
— Truly Pete (72%)👽 🔜 Some Rave Eventually (@AStateofPete) February 17, 2024
With another user mentioning, ‘Sony needs to sell the rights away, Disney at least puts effort and budget into their movies lol. These Spiderman universe films are weiner.’ A third user wrote, ‘After the disaster that is Madame Web, this is no shock. Sony needs to reevaluate their live-action films.’
madam web was really that bad huh
— sitch (@sitch616) February 17, 2024
Angela Kang saved the walking dead so I have faith in her!
— Tha Homie Dav (@KanyesLittleBro) February 17, 2024
They saw what Madame Web did and said “let’s not even try to do anything close to that ever again!” lmao 💀
— RJ (@ResonantJustice) February 17, 2024
Some hopeful fans added that Angela Kang had saved The Walking Dead so they have faith in whatever she plans to do.
Madame Web is playing in theaters.
