Dakota Johnsonisn’t sugarcoating her feelings about the filmmaking industry. During a recent interview with L’Officiel USA, Johnson straight up said, “I am discovering that it’s really f—ing bleak in this industry. It is majorly disheartening.” However, when theMadame Webactress visited with Perri Nemiroff, Johnson suggested that smaller movies might be the one hope for the industry. Johnson said in her exclusive sit-down withCollider:
“I mean, there’s so many films that I love. Poor Things I think is an incredible film, Past Lives is an incredible film. I think the movies that I’ve made recently that are smaller, I think because you don’t have to answer to studio executives you get to have a little bit more creative license and agency. Like Daddio was a really important experience in that way. But I don’t know, it’s possible for artists to make what they want to make, it’s just kind of a hardcore battle right now.”
Madame Web
While Johnson will always be associated withFifty Shades of Grey(2015) and the film’s subsequent sequels, the actress’ portfolio is overflowing with many memorable roles, regardless of the size of the parts she played in them.The Social Network, Ben and Kate, The Five-Year EngagementandSuspiriaall gave Johnson room to flex her acting muscles and show the industry that she’s one of its most valuable assets.
Dakota Johnson: Across the Spider-Verse?
There’s no denying that Dakota Johnson has some issues with the filmmaking industry. But even withJohnson’s candid L’Officiel USA interview, the actress was still very excited to join the world of Marvel inMadame Web. And the way the superhero movie approached its action sequences really appealed to her. Johnson said in the same interview:
“I was excited for the action in the movie because it’s not your typical superhero movie where there’s, like, insane fighting. It feels, for Cassie, a little bit more grounded and scrappy, so I was looking forward to that. And then the stunt driving, I was really excited about. And then, weirdly the blue screen work at first was something I had to get used to. There wasn’t very much of it, but I ended up having a really good time because you just kind of let your imagination go nuts and I found it really fun.”
Johnson recently appeared onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. And despite Fallon’s best efforts, Johnson would not concede thatMadame Webis a part of Sony’s live-action Spider-Verse. Honestly, Johnson’s adamant denial of the fact feels a lot likeAndrew Garfield ofThe Amazing Spider-Manfilmswhen the actor was being pressured to reveal whether he was returning forSpider-Man: No Way Home.
Even though Garfield vehemently denied his involvement inNo Way Home, of course, he showed up and reprised the role of Spider-Man/Peter Parker. Johnson continues to say in her press tour forMadame Webthat the film exists in a “standalone universe, standalone world.” Maybe she’s under a gag order, too, just like Garfield. Clearly,Madame Webis part of the Spider-Verse. However, it might make more sense if Johnson rephrases her answer as “standalone movie.” That’s obvious, and it is actually accurate. And just for the sake of argument, sinceMadame Webtakes place in 2003, Tobey Maguire would logistically be Cassandra Webb’s (Johnson) Spidey.
Madame Webopens exclusively in theaters on Valentine’s Day. And check out Johnson’s appearance onThe Tonight Showin its entirety below:
