‘Madame Web’s Dakota Johnson sparked controversy after her recent interview with MTV, leading fans to question her fit within the Spider-Man universe.
Johnson, who recently debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Cassie Webb, found herself at the center of a fan uproar following her inability to correctly name a single Tom Holland-led Spider-Man movie. When asked to name the three films, Johnson offered the following after a confused look:
“‘Spider-Man: Here He Comes,’ ‘Spider-Man: And He’s Back,’ ‘The Goblet of Spider-Man,’ and ‘Harry, Spider-Man, and the Goblet of Man.'”
You can see the interview below.
Fan Reactions to Johnson Were Gold
Johnson’s failure not only fueled a new wave of memes but also intensified doubts over her role in the underperforming Marvel film. Fans expressed their disappointment online, criticizing Johnson for what they perceived as ‘a lack of seriousness’ toward her role within the Spider-Man universe:
“I’m not saying you’ve gotta be a dedicated viewer and consumer of these movies… but if you’re getting involved with the universe, I do think you should have the decency and respect to do some research… Especially when they’re more successful…”
Some pointed to her status as a ‘nepo baby’ as a factor in her casual approach, while others lamented the missed opportunity for her to immerse herself in the lore of the franchise.
“I mean, there’s one thing about phoning it in and just taking a check, but c’mon. At least pretend like you care somewhat… like why’d she even take the role anyway? It’s not like Nepo baby was gonna run outta money.”
Comments on Reddit, where Johnson’s video appeared in the “r/funnyvideos” subreddit, were also pointing out the same thing:
“Doesn’t really matter as long as she plays her part well. But I just can’t imagine not being interested in the franchise you’re becoming a part of. Like surely, for yourself, it would be interesting to at least check it out and see why it has such a fandom. But money talks, and maybe that’s the only important thing. She’s not doing it for charity by the end of the day, and neither should she feel obliged to.”
You can see the fan tweets below.
I’m not saying you’ve gotta be a dedicated viewer and consumer of these movies… but if you’re getting involved with the universe, I do think you should have the decency and respect to do some research… Especially when they’re more successful…
— SHRQQM (@theSHRQQM) February 15, 2024
I mean there’s one thing about phoning it in and just taking a check but cmon. At least pretend like you care somewhat…like why’d she even take the role anyways. It’s not like Nepo baby was gonna run outta money.
— Mandusa (@SadCrowXO) February 15, 2024
Madame Web Was a Failure As Well
Following its release, ‘Madame Web’ has not been received favorably by critics or fans. The film got negative reactions, especially after ruining an iconic line from Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movies. Reviews have been harsh, with the movie described as an ’embarrassing mess’ and receiving low scores on platforms such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
The Hollywood Reporter claimed the film didn’t even meet the lowest of expectations, while The Guardian dubbed it ‘as dumb and schlocky as the worst of the genre.’ Looking at the critical reception of ‘Madame Web,’ it seems there is a growing disconnect between the expectations of Marvel fans and what the universe produces and promotes.
