The upcoming Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Madame Web is set to arrive next month. It will be the first entry in the franchise that is led by an all-female superhero team with Dakota Johnson's Cassandra Webb leading the pack.
Considering that the new film is presumably part of Sony's shared universe of live-action Spider-Man movies, some fans have been wondering about its potential connection to the Venom films and Morbius.
What adds more to the confusion is that the movie will focus on superheroes rather than a fan-favorite Spider-Man villain and there have been rumors that it will have references to the origins of the web-slinger.
Now, as we're getting closer to the release, we finally have the details on the film's setting which adds to the clue on its mysterious plot.
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Madame Web to Take Place in the Year 2003 in a Standalone Universe
Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that Madame Web will take place in the year 2003 and is set in a standalone universe.
Director S.J. Clarkson explained the free rein that she had with the film's period setting and the advantage of taking place in its own universe.
"She’s definitely in a standalone world. I was able to just have free rein and let the movie be what it needed to be, as opposed to trying to force it into something else," she said.
"That was a gift, in a way, to be able to take something and bring a fresh and I hope original take to it."
Now that we have the confirmation that the film will take place around 21 years ago, it poses the question of why they decided to have 2003 as its specific setting and whether there is more meaning behind it than what they've presented.
It also shoots down any connections with the other SSU movies since it looks like it won't have any shared universe tie-ins and doesn't necessarily set up a major event that Sony will explore down the road.
There's still a lot of mystery surrounding the film's plot and period setting, but at the very least, we have more clues now on what the SSU entry will offer in its new tale.
Madame Web is set to arrive in theaters this February 14.
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