In the same week that Dora and the Lost City of Gold star Isabela Merced joined the cast of Sony’s Madame Web film, Tahar Rahim (The Serpent) steps in to join her with Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), and Celeste O’Connor (Ghostbusters: Afterlife). Rahim’s role is currently unknown, like the rest of the cast, except Johnson, who plays the titular character.
Tahar Rahim has made a name for himself with films and series based on real people. Most notably, he starred in the Netflix miniseries The Serpent, based on Charles Sobhraj, a French serial killer from the 70s. Last year, the French actor was nominated for a BAFTA for his leading performance in The Mauritanian, which followed Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian citizen who was wrongfully imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay detention camp from 2002 to 2016. The film also starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Jodie Foster.
Madame Web and the SPUMC
Sony has continued to make moves to establish its universe, the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, with both Venom films and, most recently, Morbius. Madame Web stands as the first non-villain as she is known in the animated series and comic books as an ally to Peter Parker. Due to her psychic abilities, she finds out Spider-Man’s identity and becomes his friend. In the film, it is uncertain how this will play out, but we know it will be an origin story.
The character seems to be getting a major shakeup. According to Deadline, the character will be more like Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange from the MCU. While that will wait for confirmation from Sony or when we get the first look at the film, the most significant change is the character’s age. Traditionally, she is known as an old woman, but with Johnson’s casting, it seems Sony is going for a youthful twist.
Madame Web is expected to hit theaters on July 7th, 2023.
