Johnson stars as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic with psychic powers, in Sony’s upcoming superhero origin story.
A clairvoyant Dakota Johnson must protect a group of teenagers from an evil Spider-Man hellbent on killing them in the first trailer for Sony’s newest superhero origin story, Madame Web.
Johnson stars as Cassandra Webb, a New York paramedic who is plagued by visions of the future that seemingly surround a group of girls — played by Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced — that keep meeting violent ends.
Using her newfound powers as a force for good in the clip, Cassandra attempts to rescue the girls at a local diner before she’s confronted by a murderous Spider-Man dressed in a black suit who chokes one of the girls and viciously stabs Cassandra in the stomach. She then wakes up outside the diner and remarks, “Let’s try that again.”
It is then revealed that the man behind the mask is Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim), who once worked with Cassandra’s mother “when she was researching spiders” before her death. In the comics, Ezekiel underwent a ritual that gave him a Spider-Totem, which grants a person similar powers to that of Spider-Man.
The girls then discover that their fates are all, strangely, tied to Cassandra. “You don’t think this is weird? How we’re all connected?” Merced’s character asks. To which Cassandra frankly responds, “It’s honestly, like, the least weird thing that’s happened all day.”
Sims, who is also seemingly clairvoyant, later shares his reasoning for wanting the girls dead, warning Cassandra that she has “no idea what those girls become” as quick snapshots of them sporting their own Spider-Man suits flash onscreen.
But Cassandra isn’t easily swayed by Sims, taking the girls under her wing to ensure their survival. “Your future was almost so different!” she shouts at them at one point. “If you want to live, you have to trust me.”
Directed by SJ Clarkson, Madame Web also stars Mike Epps, Emma Roberts, and Adam Scott. The film swings into theaters on Feb. 14, 2024. Watch the trailer above.