The cast of Sony's Madame Web movie continues to grow. Per Deadline, actor and comedian Mike Epps has just boarded the project, though no details about his character have yet been revealed. He is the latest addition of the film's ensemble cast led by Dakota Johnson (Persuasion) as the titular crimefighter. Other cast members include Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold), Emma Roberts (Scream Queens), Celeste O'Connor (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), and Tahar Rahim (The Serpent).
The Madame Web movie is based on the Marvel Comics character created by Denny O'Neil and John Romita Jr. It is written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless following an earlier draft written by Kerem Sanga. The Madame Web character was originally introduced in Marvel lore as an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis who uses a life support system shaped like a spiderweb, giving her the titular name. Subsequent iterations of the character have been younger and it's presumed Johnson will play one of these versions.
Epps may be best known for his comedy, having spent decades doing stand-up. He is also famous for his acting work, especially in comedy with a big role as Day-Day Jones alongside Ice Cube's Craig in the Friday sequels, Next Friday and Friday After Next. Epps also appeared in The Hangover and its sequel The Hangover III and serves as the star of an Uncle Book reboot television series.
More recently, Epps appeared as Richard Pryor in the HBO Max series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. He also starred in The House Next Door, a sequel to his dark comedy horror film Meet the Blacks, in 2021. The actor is also set to appear in the upcoming comedy You People alongside Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Epps also appears with Natalie Portman in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake.
Madame Web Expands Sony's Marvel Universe
Sony has found great financial success with their Marvel Universe. Both Venom movies proved to be pretty big hitters at the box office, even if the critical reviews weren't all stellar. But not every Marvel movie developed by Sony is going to be a cash show. A lot of investment was put into Jared Leto's Morbius just for the film to bomb in theaters, though it did find success later on upon its release on digital.
With that said, it would appear that the Madame Web film could go either way. It is one of the multiple movies that are currently in the works at Sony that are a part of this Marvel Universe with Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Morbius. Also in development is a separate Kraven the Hunter movie that will star Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the character typically portrayed as a villain in Spider-Man comics. Many other projects are rumored and a third Venom film is in the planning stages.
Madame Web is scheduled to be released on movie theaters on July 7, 2023.