Dakota Johnson Reflects on the Challenges of Filming ‘Madame Web’ Against a Blue Screen: ‘I Don’t Know If This Will Turn Out Well’
Apr
Dakota Johnson faced a unique challenge while working on “Madame Web” under the direction of SJ Clarkson. Portraying Cassandra Webb in the forthcoming superhero thriller set within Sony’s “Spider-Man” universe, Johnson discussed the experience of acting against a blue screen for CGI effects.
“I’ve never been in a film where you’re surrounded by a blue screen, with simulated explosions happening, and someone is yelling, ‘Explosion!’ while you react as if it’s real,” Johnson revealed in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “To me, that felt absolutely surreal. I found myself thinking, ‘I’m not sure if this will turn out well at all! I just hope I did an adequate job!'”
Despite her initial doubts, Johnson placed her trust in Clarkson, emphasizing their collaboration during the filming process. “I placed my trust in [Clarkson],” Johnson stated, mentioning how she frequently consulted with the director to distinguish between real scenes and those imagined by Cassandra. “She’s incredibly dedicated and has remained fully committed to this project since day one.”
Clarkson approached Johnson about the superhero film in 2021, shortly after the actor had completed filming for “The Lost Daughter.” Initially hesitant about the role, Johnson admitted, “When I received the script, I had reservations about portraying a superhero.”
However, she was captivated by Cassandra’s character, expressing, “I found her powers to be intriguing. I was fascinated by the idea of a superhero whose greatest strength lies in her mind.”
Reflecting on the stunts required for “Madame Web,” Johnson shared her experience with a “day of stunt driving work.”
“It turns out, I’m quite proficient!” Johnson exclaimed. “I can handle some pretty daring maneuvers behind the wheel. I drove an ambulance. I drove a taxi. I drove practically every vehicle in the film—except for flying through the air and leaping out of buildings. But aside from that, I’m like, ‘Move over, Tom Cruise.'”
“Madame Web” is set to debut in theaters on February 14th.
