Dakota Johnson blames studio meddling for Madame Web failure, opening up about the troubled Marvel film that underperformed at the box office and led to harsh criticism. In a recent interview, the actress revealed how interference changed the project and ultimately left her feeling powerless over its fate.
Johnson Criticizes Studio Interference Over Madame Web’s Direction
During an interview with the LA Times, Johnson’s mood shifted noticeably when the topic of Madame Web, which starred alongside Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor, was mentioned.
“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, directly pointing to studio involvement as the reason for the film’s collapse.—Dakota Johnson, Actress
She described the experience as disorienting, saying she was
“just sort of along for the ride.”
Johnson admitted that making art in such an environment is challenging:
“It’s really hard to make art that way.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress
Reflecting on how the film changed through production, Johnson added,
“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. I don’t have a Band-Aid over it.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress
She stressed she does not dwell on career setbacks:
“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?”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress
Despite its commercial failure and being widely criticized by both audiences and critics, Madame Web did briefly top Netflix’s charts after its initial release. Nevertheless, the movie accumulated three Razzie Awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay, and Johnson received the not-so-coveted Worst Actress title. The global box office return was about $100 million, ranking it among the least successful comic book films, though it did surpass Sony’s Kraven the Hunter, which earned an even lower total. Johnson’s perspective emphasized that the blame does not rest solely with fans.
Industry Trends and Johnson’s Disapproval of Data-Driven Decisions
Johnson addressed the aftermath of Madame Web’s release, explaining her lack of participation in its promotion due to illness and sharing her candid reaction:
“I was like, ‘Ugh.’ I can’t take any of it seriously at all.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress
She implied in interviews that Sony’s actions changed the film’s intended direction, fueling rumors that the project originally included Spider-Man and multiverse content before studio input stripped those elements. Johnson underscored her stance by recalling,
“Films are made by a filmmaker and a team of artists. Art does not do well when it’s made by committee,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress—highlighting her disapproval of executive-driven decision-making.
She continued,
“Audiences are extremely smart, and executives have started to believe that they’re not.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress
Warning about widespread industry reliance on data, algorithms, and even artificial intelligence, Johnson was blunt:
“Audiences will always be able to sniff out bullshit,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress—and cautioned,
“Even if films start to be made with AI, humans aren’t going to f-cking want to see those.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress
Stepping Away from Superhero Roles After Madame Web
Dakota Johnson, who shared the screen with artists like Chris Evans in other projects, expressed no desire to repeat her superhero experience:
“I probably will never do anything like it again because I don’t make sense in that world,”
she said.—Dakota Johnson, Actress
She elaborated on how film projects can change unexpectedly:
“Sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something, and it’s one thing, and then as you’re making it, it becomes a completely different thing.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress
Calling the ordeal a “real learning experience,” Johnson accepted the criticism, acknowledging it wasn’t enjoyable to be “ripped to shreds,” but she understands why people reacted so negatively. Madame Web’s ensemble included established names like Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor, yet the project could not escape its fate as one of the most maligned recent comic book movies.
Focusing on Independent Projects and Future Plans
Transitioning from blockbusters, Johnson has chosen to focus on smaller films under her own production company, TeaTime Pictures. She is set to appear in “Materialists” with Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, releasing June 13, as well as “Daddio” and “Splitsville,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, showing her preference for artistic control and creative fulfillment.
Additionally, Johnson’s upcoming credits include “Verity,” where she plays Lowen Ashleigh, a character contracted by Jeremy Crawford (played by Josh Hartnett) to ghostwrite for his wife, bestselling author Verity (Anne Hathaway), after an accident leaves her unable to work. As Lowen moves into the Crawfords’ home to complete the novel, she uncovers unsettling secrets about Verity’s past.
Through these choices, Dakota Johnson illustrates a determined shift toward projects where artists, not committees, lead the creative process, distancing herself from the industry forces she blames for Madame Web’s troubled outcome.
