Dakota Johnson Says the Failure of 'Madame Web ''Wasn't My Fault'
"I think unfortunately with Madame Web, it started out as something and turned into something else. And I was just sort of along for the ride at that point," Johnson said
Johnson, whose latest movie Materialists releases in theaters June 13, was named Worst Performance by the Razzie Awards for her role in Madame WebMore than one year after Dakota Johnson's 2024 superhero movie Madame Web flopped at the box office, the actress is looking back on why the movie didn't work out.
'It wasn't my fault," Johnson, 35, said with a laugh, as she and her Materialists director Celine Song spoke with the Los Angeles Times for an article published Wednesday, June 4. Johnson had been asked whether she was focused on making smaller, indie movies like her new romantic comedy with Song and recent movies like Daddio and Splitsville, which Johnson's company TeaTime Pictures produced.
'There's this thing that happens now where a lot of creative decisions are made by committee. Or made by people who don't have a creative bone in their body," Johnson said of Madame Web. "And it's really hard to make art that way. Or to make something entertaining that way. And I think unfortunately with Madame Web, it started out as something and turned into something else. And I was just sort of along for the ride at that point. But that happens. Bigger-budget movies fail all the time."
Johnson starred alongside Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O'Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Mike Epps, Adam Scott and Emma Roberts in Madame Web, one of Sony Pictures' Spider-Man spinoff movies. The movie follows Johnson's character Cassandra Webb as she gains clairvoyant abilities that allow her to see the future of characters portrayed by Sweeney, O'Connor and Merced. While the film never directly connects to Tom Holland's Spider-Man movies, the characters are closely associated with Spider-Man and Peter Parker in many Marvel comic book stories.
Madame Web received negative reviews from critics and audiences alike and won the 2025 Razzie Awards' awards for Worst Picture, Worst Screenplay and Worst Actress for Johnson back in February. Despite all the negative attention the movie received, Johnson did not appear concerned with the long-term impact of Madame Web while speaking with the L.A. Times.
'I don't have a Band-Aid over it,' she said. 'There's no part of me that's like, 'Oh, I'll never do that again' to anything. I've done even tiny movies that didn't do well. Who cares?'
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In Materialists, Johnson strays far from superhero fare and instead portrays a New York City matchmaker whose love life becomes caught between two men: an ex named John (Chris Evans) who she reconnects with on the same night she meets a new man named Harry (Pedro Pascal).
'I think a lot of what I read these days is void of soul and heart, and [writer-director Song] is all soul and heart," Johnson told the L.A. Times of the movie, when asked why she has not made more romantic comedies. "I really love a rom-com if it feels like I can connect to the people in it. And I think I've found it hard to connect to the people in some of the ones that I've been offered.'
Materialists is in theaters June 13.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
4 hours ago
- Elle
Emma Stone Says Working With Ex-Boyfriend Andrew Garfield Was a 'Special Time'
THE RUNDOWN On Thursday, Emma Stone offered some rare comments on her former relationship with actor Andrew Garfield, who she met on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man. The pair dated for about four years beginning in 2011 and seemingly remain good friends. Stone shared insight into their connection during her Vogue's Life in Looks interview, looking at former ensembles and reflecting on where she was in life during that time. In the Spider-Man films, Stone played Gwen Stacy, the love interest of Garfield's character, Peter Parker, otherwise known as Spider-Man. One photo presented to Stone was from the 2014 London premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, in which she is wearing a bright yellow Versace dress. After seeing the outfit, Stone said, 'I mean, I really loved doing Spider-Man. I loved everyone I worked with. I met Andrew there. I met Sally Field and Marc Webb was wonderful. It was really a special time in my life.' She continued, 'The recurring theme is the people, more than kind of like the film itself, is what sticks with me for so long. And so I have only like the fondest memories of this whole experience.' She did add that the press tours were not her favorite part of doing the movies. 'I don't really know how people do it,' she said. 'I remember it being like nine countries in maybe two weeks, and you're functioning in a state of jet lag never previously known to you. I felt truly psychotic the entire time.' Garfield has also talked warmly about Stone and his time as Spider-Man, telling Variety in 2021, 'It was only beautiful. I got to meet Emma [Stone] and work with her and Sally Field.' In Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2022, Garfield also talked about how Stone guessed he would make a surprise appearance in the Tom Holland-led film, Spider-Man: No Way Home. 'Emma kept on texting me. She was like, 'Are you in this new 'Spider-Man' film?' And I was like, 'I don't know what you're talking about!' Garfield claimed. 'She was like, 'Shut up, just tell me,' And like, I honestly… I kept it going, even with her, it's hilarious. And then she saw it and was like, 'You're a jerk!'' Garfield is currently dating Monica Barbaro and Stone went on to marry husband Dave McCary.
Los Angeles Times
4 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
This book teaches you how to break into Hollywood
This week, we are chatting with Ada Tseng and Jon Healey about their new book, 'Breaking Into New Hollywood.' We also take a look at what our critics read, and visit a bookstore that has become a social beehive in Culver City. The entertainment industry is experiencing a massive transformation, as traditional jobs are vanishing and artificial intelligence increasingly upends the way media is created. Thankfully, former L.A. Times editors Ada Tseng and Jon Healey are here to help. The duo, with extensive experience covering show business, have written a new book for anyone who's ever dreamed of working in Hollywood. Tseng and Healey interviewed hundreds of insiders who work in front of and behind the camera to provide a thorough look at how to break in, and what it's like when you do find that dream job. I sat down with authors to discuss 'Breaking Into New Hollywood.' (Please note: The Times may earn a commission through links to whose fees support independent bookstores.) This is the most comprehensive how-to guide for Hollywood careers I've ever read. Where did the impetus for the book come from? Ada: The book started as a Hollywood careers series at the Los Angeles Times, when Jon and I were editors on a team that specialized in writing guides and explainers. As we were thinking about how to be useful to L.A. Times readers, I pitched a project to help people who were interested in getting a job in Hollywood. A lot of people come to L.A. starry-eyed with big dreams, but the film and TV industry can be pretty brutal. As journalists, we're Hollywood outsiders, but we had access to hundreds of professionals who were generous enough to share what they wished they knew when they were starting out. We see it like this: On behalf of the people who don't have connections in the industry, we cold-emailed people, asked for informational interviews, picked their brains, listened to stories of what they did to build a career — and did our best to consolidate their most practical pieces of advice into an actionable guide. Jon: A lot of folks I interviewed had similar origin stories in this respect: They knew that they wanted to work in the industry in some capacity, but they didn't know what exactly they could do. So it made sense to do a book for that sort of person — a guide that would show an array of possible career paths to people who didn't know what role they wanted to fill. I feel like 'How to Break into the Business' books in the past have tended to focus on positive outcomes rather than the struggle. Did you want to temper expectations, or at least make sure people think things through very thoroughly before jumping in? Ada: We just wanted to be honest. The glamorous fantasy of Hollywood is so intoxicating. But if you're going to work in the industry, you need to navigate the day-to-day reality of it. I don't think we were trying to encourage or discourage anyone. I'd hope that some people would read the chapters and think, 'This seems doable, and now I can make a plan,' while others would read it and think, 'If I'm honest with myself, I'm someone who needs more stability in my life.' Because it's not just a career choice. It's a lifestyle choice. Jon: Right, this was about expectation-setting and reality-checking. The very first interviews I did in this project were of Foley artists. An expert I interviewed said there were 40 to 50 established Foley practitioners in the U.S., and 100 to 200 folks trying to get into the field. That's a very tough nut to crack. Then there are the Hollywood unions, which present a catch-22 to anyone trying to join their ranks — they have to do a certain number of hours in jobs covered by union contracts, but union members get first crack at all those gigs. Your book also covers jobs above and below the line. I think many people don't even realize how many different career opportunities exist. Ada: There are two things we heard over and over again. People would say, 'It's incredibly important to understand what all the different departments do.' And they'd also say, 'So many people — even our own colleagues in the industry — don't understand what we do.' So we wanted to encourage newcomers to learn about all different types of jobs in Hollywood and how they work together. Jon: Talking about the emotional components is about setting expectations too. The vast majority of people who work in Hollywood, from A-list actors to entry-level grips, are freelancers. That's a tough life of highs and lows, and you have to prepare for that mentally as well as financially. People have to hustle for years to establish themselves, and that takes an enormous capacity for rejection. On top of that is the physical toll the work can extract, especially on the folks involved in setting up and tearing down sets. Part of the point of the book is to tell people with Hollywood dreams that they'll need to gird themselves emotionally and physically for the work. Mark Athatakis finds much to like in 'Ready for My Close-Up,' David M. Lubin's book about the classic 1950 film 'Sunset Boulevard.' 'Though the book has its shortcomings,' he writes, '[Lubin] rightly sees the movie as a kind of passkey into the history of the first half-century of Hollywood itself.' Robet Allen Papinchak weighs in on Phoebe Greenwood's Middle East satire 'Vulture,' finding it 'a darkly comic, searing satire grounded in historic politics.' Emma Sloley's novel 'The Island of Last Things' envisions a future where animal life, and then entire ecosystems, are wiped out, but Ilana Masad writes that Sloley also highlights 'the small moments of beauty, joy and care that emerge even during … horrible times.' And Paula L. Woods has a chat with master thriller novelist Karin Slaughter about her new book, 'We Are All Guilty Here,' and TV series. Four years after it opened its doors to the public, Village Well Books & Coffee has become a community locus in its Culver City neighborhood. Owner Jennifer Caspar has created a vibrant space with a full-service cafe, allowing her customers to linger for as long as they please while perusing Caspar's ample and well-curated selection of new books. I chatted with Caspar about her store and what's selling right now. Why did you open the store? I wanted a place where people can facilitate connections with others, because I think that's what people need. Everyone is so overwhelmed by their phones and technology, and we tend to take the easy path, which is to not get out and see people. What's selling right now? 'Atmosphere,' Taylor Jenkins Reid; 'Martyr,' Kaveh Akbar; 'The Emperor of Gladness,' Ocean Vuong; 'All Fours,' Miranda July. There's been a real increase in books about activism and the Middle East situation. We're launching an activism book club here, starting with 'Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)' by Dean Spade. It will be interesting to see who comes out for that. Why books now? Why not the Substack, social media, etc.? Books are an antidote to the constant distractions in our lives. People need to connect offline, and books give us a chance to settle down and focus. Studies show that what we learn from books stays with us longer. You can read a Kindle, and I do, but there is something about sitting down with words on paper. For me, it's great physical therapy for my emotional state. Village Well is located at 9900 Culver Blvd., Culver City.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Beloved PlayStation Video Game Getting Movie
has released several TV shows and films based on its beloved franchises. From The Last of Us to Until Dawn, the company doesn't seem afraid to bring even its less popular properties to life. That notion seems to continue if a recent report is believed to be true. The Last Guardian film is in the works According to video games insider DanielRPK, Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions are making a film adaptation of Fumito Ueda's acclaimed PS4 action-adventure game, The Last Guardian. There are no additional details about the project, which may indicate that the film is in the early stages of development. Fumito Ueda is an iconic and influential game developer known for the critically acclaimed games Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. His games are known for a distinct style, featuring vast landscapes with gameplay that complements their unique storytelling. In terms of cinematics, a film based on The Last Guardian has the potential to look incredible. How they attempt to tell that tale without the viewer making that connection with Trico, the ginormous dog bird that helps the player move through the ancient ruins, through gameplay will be interesting to see. For those unaware of The Last Guardian, here is a brief description of the game: 'In a strange and mystical land, a young boy discovers a mysterious creature with which he forms a deep, unbreakable bond. The unlikely pair must rely on each other to escape towering, treacherous ruins filled with unknown dangers. Experience the journey of a lifetime in this touching, emotional story of friendship and trust.' When The Last Guardian launched for PS4 back in 2016, it was met with favorable reviews. According to the review aggregate site Metacritic, it garnered an average score of 82 across 110 critic reviews. In our review, we gave it a 10 out of 10. As mentioned earlier, PlayStation Productions has released several projects based on its iconic catalog of games. The last film the company released was based on the Supermassive horror adventure game Until Dawn, and is currently available to stream on Netflix. The last television series released was Twisted Metal Season 2, which is currently seven episodes in and is available to stream on Peacock. The company also has Horizon, God of War, and Ghost of Tsushima adaptations in the works. Originally reported by Michael Ruiz on PlayStation LifeStyle. The post Beloved PlayStation Video Game Getting Movie appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Solve the daily Crossword
