Dakota Johnson never imagined she'd be in the superhero world, until she read the "gritty" script for Madame Web

Feb. 7, 2024

Exclusive: Madame Web stars Dakota Johnson and Tahar Rahim open up as to why they were drawn to the Sony Marvel movie

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Madame Web star Dakota Johnson has opened up on what drew her to theSonyMarvel movie – and no, it doesn’t really have anything to do with getting to play a comic book character.

Directed by Jessica Jones' S. J. Clarkson, Madame Web follows New Yorker Cassie (Johnson), who suddenly finds herself with clairvoyant abilities following a near-death experience. One random evening, she sees a horrifying vision of a man murdering three teens on a train and saves them all by intervening, subsequently forcing the foursome into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the determined, ruthless killer.Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, Celeste O’Connor,Isabela Merced, and Tahar Rahim also feature.

While she’s presented as awkward and a bit of a reluctant hero towards the start of the movie, Cassie is no stranger to rescuing people, given her job as a paramedic. “She’s on this, like, unending, insatiable quest to save other people because she wasn’t able to save her mother. I mean, that’s very…” Johnson laughs nervously. “But, you know, I think that’s at the root of it for her. It’s a journey that she’ll be on forever, and has always been on; to try and make up for this huge loss in her life.”

Contrary to Johnson, French-Algerian actor Rahim, who plays antagonist Ezekiel Sims, had dreamed of doing a superhero movie since he was a young boy, but prior to Madame Web, those sorts of roles had proved elusive to him.

Madame Web releases on February 14. While we wait, check out all thenew superhero moviesheading our way. Keep an out for a future episode of Inside Total Film podcast to listen to more of our chat with Johnson.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.

Benedict Cumberbatch is returning as Doctor Strange in Avengers: Doomsday alongside Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr.

After the massive success of Deadpool and Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds says he sees the Merc with a Mouth as more of a supporting character going forward

Get hundreds of hours of RPG goodness for $30 with this bundle of 8 games that includes the first two Baldur’s Gate games, which are absolutely worth playing