Spider-Man fans think they have worked out Madame Web's story, following that puzzling trailer

Dakota Johnson as Cassandra and Sydney Sweeney as Julia in Madame Web
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Marvel fans think Madame Web could still be about protecting baby Peter Parker, despite the Sony movie's first trailer not really hinting at that at all – and some of them are so confident, they're already gearing themselves up for a second teaser to prove it.

Starring Adam Scott, Sydney Sweeney, Tahar Rahim, and Dakota Johnson, the upcoming flick centers on New York-based paramedic Cassandra Web, whose clairvoyant abilities allow her to see into the "spider world". When three young women with web-slinging abilities are threatened by a seemingly ruthless killer named Ezekiel Sims, Cassandra must use her powers to keep the trio safe.

American Horror Story's Emma Roberts, who we glimpse from the back at some sort of baby shower in a featurette, is rumored to be playing a pregnant Mary Parker, too, which supports the theory that the film might see Cassandra protect her, and subsequently her future son Peter Parker. Think The Terminator... and Sarah and John Connor.

After the film's trailer swung into action recently, Chipsahoy523 took to Reddit to point out: "Ezekiel Sims can see the future and sees Morlun coming after the Spider totems (and maybe destroying the universe in the process?), so he attempts to stop that from happening by killing a young Peter before he's bitten."

Meanwhile, Savethethrowaways777 argues that they could be saving plot details for future promos: "Is it just me or does this not resemble the 'Protect Baby Peter Parker/Mary Parker' plot at all? Perhaps they're saving it for trailer 2 or even release?"

"Mary and Ben Parker are in the cast, so I imagine that is still the plot," says another discussion board user.

With such a focus of Sweeney, Celeste O'Connor, and Isabela Merced's young Spider-Women, though, some reckon that'll be saved for the finale or even a sequel.

"The visions we see Web having are chronologically close to the present time, e.g. only shortly into the future," notes TheOutcastBoi. "Given Peter hasn't been born yet, and so is at least 15 years out from getting his powers, my guess is Sims hasn't even seen him in his visions yet, since the other Spider-Women seem to be a heck of a lot closer to gaining their powers.

"My guess is, Web helps the Spider-Women power up in order to defend themselves from Sims, and they successfully fend him off for the first time (not beat him, he's still after them and it's close, but he's pushed back), and it's only after that happens he sees Peter, and immediately switches his focus to hunting down Mary Parker. And so the final act of the film is the four Spider-Women, now fully powered up and in their costumes, taking on Sims to protect Mary and Unborn Peter."

Directed by S.J. Clarkson, Madame Web releases in cinemas on February 14, 2024. For more, check out all the new superhero movies and upcoming movies heading our way.

Amy West

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.

Read more
Spider-Man: No Way Home
This is why fans think Spider-Man will become the MCU's most important character after Avengers: Doomsday
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fantastic Four: First Steps concept art contains an unexpected MCU Easter Egg that could change the Marvel movie completely
The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer
One moment in the Fantastic Four trailer may have accidentally spoiled a major Marvel rumor that won't go away: Sue Storm is pregnant
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Deadpool walking in front of a damaged store during the Marvel movie Deadpool and Wolverine.
There's a moment in Deadpool and Wolverine involving Spider-Man that you might have misinterpreted
Thunderbolts* trailer
The latest Thunderbolts trailer all but confirms a major Marvel fan theory that one character is a goner
Furiosa
Spider-Man 4 may include a Marvel heroine although Sony cannot confirm it will be Anya Taylor-Joy as Black Cat, says boss: "There’s a lot of fantastic female characters, but I can't talk about all this"
Latest in Superhero Movies
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Lewis Pullman as "Bob" in Thunderbolts
The first look at Thunderbolts' Sentry suit seemingly leaked in new Marvel merchandise
Spider-Man: No Way Home
This is why fans think Spider-Man will become the MCU's most important character after Avengers: Doomsday
Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry in Aquaman
Jason Momoa pitched being cast as Lobo as soon as James Gunn got his DC job in a text with "ten billion exclamation points": "It was always part of the plan"
Simu Liu in Shang-Chi
Simi Liu says Shang-Chi 2 is still coming despite Destin Daniel Cretton directing Spider-Man 4: "I don’t think anything’s been impacted"
James Gunn
James Gunn and Zack Snyder's viral photo was posted to prove to DC fans there's no bad blood between them: "It's such a weird dynamic that's been created between factions online"
Latest in News
Battlefield Bad Company 2
"I am freaked out by how much might actually have been accurate": Battlefield Bad Company 3 writer unearths forgotten script
Skyrim
Skyrim is still an all-time great for asset reuse: this hunk of human flesh could be some poor guard's glute, or probably just a piece of repurposed beef
best zombie games
"Don't bet on there being more of Last of Us": Asked about The Last of Us 3, Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann says "this could be it"
Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace
"Wise mentor" or "awful Jedi"? Star Wars fans are debating if Qui-Gon Jinn is to blame for Anakin's turn to the dark side
Persona 5 Royal screenshot
Sega outlines plan to "strengthen" Persona, Yakuza, and Sonic studios, says "Atlus is an important studio for us to expand Japanese IPs overseas"
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows devs added a Canon Mode removing RPG choices after Odyssey fans "expressed their disappointment" over not having a "definitive" story