Actress Dakota Johnson voiced her decision to step away from high-profile blockbuster productions for the foreseeable future. This move was prompted by reactions to her recent film, “Madame Web,” which was panned by critics and fans. The film had one of MCU’s lowest-grossing openings.
In a recent interview with Bustle, Ms. Johnson shared candid insights into the multifaceted challenges facing contemporary filmmaking. She lamented the growing prevalence of decision-making by committee, both in large-scale productions and smaller independent films. Ms. Johnson emphasized that creativity often suffers when driven solely by numerical metrics, stressing the importance of preserving artistic integrity and the collaborative efforts of filmmakers and their teams.
Despite her prescient apprehensions, “Madame Web” faced an uphill battle with predominantly negative reviews, earning a meager 12 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Ms. Johnson, however, displayed little surprise at the outcome, acknowledging the complex nature of film production and the subjectivity of critical reception.
The reactions to “Madame Web” have been less than stellar. It failed to capture the hearts of either casual moviegoers or die-hard Spider-Man enthusiasts. Positioned within Sony’s expanding Spider-Man cinematic universe, the film adds to a string of spin-offs that struggle to resonate with audiences.
The movie, set in 2003, incorporates various nostalgic elements such as references to Y2K, Beyoncé’s “Dangerously in Love,” Martha Stewart’s legal troubles, and the emergence of “American Idol.”
Despite boasting an impressive roster of talent, including Jared Leto and Tom Hardy, films like “Venom” and “Morbius” have failed to resonate with audiences, succumbing to ridicule rather than acclaim.
Looking ahead, Sony’s future releases, such as “Kraven the Hunter” and “El Muerto,” remain uncertain in the wake of “Madame Web’s” underwhelming reception. However, upcoming projects such as Olivia Wilde’s rumored Spider-Woman film suggest the potential for improvement within the Spider-Man Universe.
While Ms. Johnson currently has no immediate plans for another high-budget endeavor, she acknowledged the invaluable lessons gleaned from her involvement in “Madame Web.” Reflecting on her experience within the superhero genre, she candidly admitted feeling out of place and unlikely to revisit similar projects in the future.
Beyond her professional ventures, Ms. Johnson’s unfiltered candor has shocked and resonated with audiences. Notably, she recounted her less-than-ideal experience filming a cameo for “The Office” series finale during an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” describing it as “honestly the worst time of my life.”
Ms. Johnson’s straightforwardness was also evident during a memorable exchange with Ellen DeGeneres on the comedian’s talk show. In a moment that swiftly went viral, Ms. Johnson corrected Ms. DeGeneres about her absence from Johnson’s birthday party. Ms. DeGeneres claimed she hadn’t been invited to Ms. Johnson’s 30th birthday party. Ms. Johnson retorted, “Actually, no, that’s not the truth, Ellen. Ask everybody. Ask Jonathan, your producer.” This exchange unfolded as Ms. DeGeneres opened the interview by extending belated birthday wishes to Ms. Johnson, sparking the dispute over the invitation. While Ms. Johnson maintained that she had indeed invited Ms. DeGeneres, the talk show host refuted the accusation.
In previous interviews, Ms. Johnson has been forthright about her experiences within the “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise, shedding light on tensions between the author and the film’s production team. She described the atmosphere as “mayhem all the time” and expressed skepticism that participants would have signed onto the project had they known its challenges in advance.
In addition to her personal experiences, Ms. Johnson has been outspoken on broader industry issues, including Hollywood’s nepotism debate. She is the granddaughter of Tippi Hedron and the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. During a recent interview on “Today,” she criticized the discourse surrounding “nepo babies,” finding it “incredibly annoying and boring.” Johnson’s willingness to engage with contentious topics further cements her status as a respected and authentic figure in Hollywood.
The Epoch Times reached out to Sony for a comment, but requests were not returned at the time of publication.
