If you’ve been on the internet this week, you have probably seen something about the new Sony Pictures film, Madame Web, and comments about Dakota Johnson’s persona on their press tour.
If you haven’t, let me catch you up! According to the press and fans, the Madame Web press tour has been kind of a disaster. There are a few reasons these comments are circling the web ahead of the film’s release. For one, there was an earthquake mid-interview. You can watch Dakota Johnson’s reaction over on Entertainment Tonight’s Instagram.
The main complaints, however, seem to be with Madame Web herself, Dakota Johnson’s lack of enthusiasm surrounding the film—they said it, not me. If you remember, Johnson is also the one who called out Ellen DeGeneres years ago on TV. Now, people claim Johnson seems to be equally unfiltered or completely uninterested in anything to do with Madame Web.
On Late Night with Seth Meyers, she commented on how she loves but is constantly annoyed by her Gen-Z co-stars Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor and Isabela Merced. In the same episode, she mentions how much she loathed being on the finale of The Office because of the on-set dynamics while dropping F-bombs left and right.
A video with Huffington Post saw Johnson not playing along with the interviewer after being unimpressed with his questions. In the same interview, they asked who the most fun to be with on set was, and her response was an unapologetic “Me.” This was followed up by, “Because I’m the best. I’m the most fun.” While the internet seems to be loving the “unhinged” side of Johnson, we didn’t have the same experience.
In the middle of this very busy press tour, CGMagazine got to spend a few short minutes with Madame Web’s leading lady, Dakota Johnson on the film’s press tour to talk about the superhero genre and important themes in film. Though she has yet to see the film, Dakota Johnson still had some insight into Madame Web.
So, to get started, superhero movies have essentially become their own genre. So what made you want to jump into Madame Web, and how did it vary from other projects you’ve worked on?
Dakota Johnson: I never thought that I would be in a superhero movie. I didn’t think that I would be a part of this world at all. But Madame Web felt like…I guess I loved that she was a young woman whose superpower was her mind, and it wasn’t some kind of ridiculous, unachievable physical skill. I felt like she was really relatable and real and grounded. What was the second part of the question?
How did it vary from other projects you’ve done in the past?
Dakota Johnson: I mean, it’s so different. It’s like, I’ve done physically challenging films. I did a dance film that was really physically challenging, but this world is so big in scope, and that was really interesting to be a part of. Then it’s a different kind of action, and then, there wasn’t loads of CGI and blue screen, it was a lot of practical sets, but we did some blue screen, and that was that just took a little bit of getting used to, but then it was really fun.
I saw you do some pretty badass stunt driving in some posts this week.
Dakota Johnson: Thank you. Yes, that was very fun.
How powerful does it make you feel to be able to do things like that? And to do it well, you crushed it.
Dakota Johnson: I was surprised. I mean, I like driving, But it’s just fun to be able to do something like that, you know? Just in case. Just in case I ever need to pull a quick one-eighty, I gotcha.
You’re the one we’re calling in the zombie apocalypse or something. Right?
Dakota Johnson: I’m your girl.
Now Madame Web explores abandonment issues, found family, and women coming into their own. How important do you think it is to really display this in film, and do you think that Madame Web did it justice?
Dakota Johnson: I haven’t seen the movie, so you tell me. [Laughs]
But how important do you think it is to really put that out there into the world and let people see these issues on screen?
Dakota Johnson: I think it’s so important. I think the family that you find in your life that you appoint for yourself, no matter where you come from or what you do, is such a profound part of life, so I think it’s It’s incredibly important, especially to see women, you know, supporting and protecting and uplifting each other and empowering each other it is really important.
You can read our Madame Web review to see how the film faired. Though it didn’t quite hit every note, there were a lot of great themes explored, and it is always nice to see women take the lead on screen. Madame Web is in theatres on February 14, 2024.
