Sony’s latest superhero entry, Madame Web, seems to be one of those things that the world cannot stop talking about. Before its release, it was that one dialogue from the movie that continued to garner an endless amount of attention for its blunt delivery and framing, and now it’s the movie’s plotline that continues to be criticized by fans.
From dialogues to direction to acting, Madame Web’s existence itself has built up a web of controversy and problems that don’t continue to end. One of the major points of contention is how the movie did not feature the three spider-women becoming superheroes and after the director explained the reason why, fans have yet again found another reason to call the Studio out.
Why the Origin Story of the Three Spider-Women is Not Featured in Madame Web
When Dakota Johnson‘s Madame Web’s trailer was released just mere months ago, fans were excited and exhilarated by the prospect of seeing three Spider-Women in action. Starring Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced as different iterations of the web-slinger, the trailer featured them in comic-accurate costumes.
After witnessing the Peter Parker ensemble in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the possibility of three Spider-Women was convincing enough for fans to watch the movie despite the pre-screening reviews being negative. And so, unsurprisingly, fans were left disappointed that the movie did not feature the origin story of the three web-slingers, instead only showing them as superheroes in a dream sequence.
In a recent interview with ComicBook, director S.J. Clarkson explained why,
“Well, I thought it would be a bit greedy to do four origin stories. That’s not really fair, is it? I’ve got to share it. Come on. I mean, first and foremost, it’s Madame Web, right? But I hope the exciting thing about it is, this is a tease.”
And so fans were fuming when the details of this interview went viral. Not only did they criticize the director and the writers, but they also called out the marketing team for allegedly blindsiding them.
Fans Call Out Madame Web’s Marketing Team For Allegedly Blindsiding Them
What was supposed to be the start of an intriguing narrative for Sony’s expanding Spider-Verse, turned out to be a disappointing setup. Not only was Madame Web filled with shoddy plotlines and cringe narratives, but even three of the four titular characters turned out to be unexplored shallow leads.
After savagely devouring the writers, cast, and director, fans have turned their anger towards the studio and its marketing team for lying to them and destroying what could have become an amazing plotline for the movie.
So instead, the studio teased the footage of the Spider-Women in the trailers A LOT and you BARELY saw them, only in the future dream sequences. You didn’t think that would piss fans off? (Not intended for the director, the marketing was Sony’s call) https://t.co/jumR6Fb4wv
— Warren Thompson “Cosmic Wonder” (@CosmicWonderYT) February 17, 2024
That makes no sense. Then don’t let us see them in their costumes. All four of them getting their powers and being bad ass would have been awesome 🤦🏾♂️💯
— AD (@ADWRLD504) February 17, 2024
they purposely misled audiences
— Adam (@SirAdam38) February 17, 2024
Proof that Sony forced them to make this movie
— Jonathan gedeon (@Jonathangedeon5) February 17, 2024
Then, why did you include them at all when the marketing is heavily focused on their powers and costumes?
I haven’t even seen this movie yet, and I feel like I got ripped off.
— Key'Shawn Watkins #BLM (@KeyWatkins51299) February 17, 2024
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) February 17, 2024
Many fans even alleged that the movie seemed like a pot of different ideas and concepts rather than being cohesive. Some even called the studio out for including four leads with three of them having no backstory and powers.
As this debate and criticism rages on, it would be better for Sony to take a step back and not repeat what it did with Morbius and Madame Web in its rapidly expanding Spider-verse.
Madame Web is in theatres now.
