Plot details have now seemingly been revealed regarding Sony’s next foray into the Spider-Verse, Madame Web. Starring Dakota Johnson as the titular Marvel character, a new report from Deadline has revealed that Madame Web will be an origin story, focussing on a younger version of the character, who is traditionally depicted in the comics as an old woman.

“Madame Web is the next entry and first female character to be developed within the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel characters. The film will be an origin story of the clairvoyant, whose psychic abilities allow her to see within the spider world.”

While these, somewhat vague, plot details have now emerged, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding Madame Web. The idea of the project being an origin story for the character has been floating around for a while, considering that Fifty Shades of Grey and Suspiria star Dakota Johnson will play the title character.

For those unaware, Madame Web is a powerful clairvoyant and precognitive mutant, who has often been depicted as a blind elderly woman suffering from myasthenia gravis, a rare long-term condition that causes muscle weakness. Due to her illness, she is connected to a life support system resembling a spiderweb, and thus she is given the alias Madame Web. The character usually steps in to assist Spider-Man on his various missions, particularly those involving the madness of the multiverse.

Along with these plot details, the report also reveals that Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Freaky star Celeste O’Connor has also joined the world of Madame Web. Her specific role in proceedings is currently unknown.

Will Madame Web Bring Sony's Spider-Man Universe Further into the Madness of the Multiverse?

With Madame Web now confirmed to be an origin story, it is unknown when the movie will be set, as it could take place long before the likes of other Sony Marvel outings like Venom and Morbius have occurred. It is even possible that audiences will be introduced to the more familiar, older version of Madame Web as well as Johnson’s younger version, with the movie flashing back to her youth and detailing her origin. In any case, we can no doubt expect that, thanks to her ability to see into and explore the multiverse, Madame Web will be used to further widen the scope of Sony’s live-action Spider-Verse.

Madame Web is being written by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, with Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney set to join Dakota Johnson and the recently added Celeste O’Connor. Madame Web will be part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe, which so far includes the likes of the Venom franchise, and the recently released Morbius. Several more installments in the shared universe are now in development, including Kraven the Hunter starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, El Muerto starring rapper and Bullet Train star Bad Bunny, and a third Venom movie. Sony clearly has big plans and high hopes for their Marvel Universe, with the studio also discussing an outing for The Sinister Six, as well as obscure characters Jackpot, Nightwatch, and more.

Madame Web is scheduled to be released on July 7, 2023.