GoCollect Blog: Do New Madame Web Set Photos Confirm Sydney Sweeney as Spider-Gwen? (do-new-madame-web-set-photos-confirm-sydney-sweeney-as-spider-gwen )

Photographs taken on the set of Sony's now-filming Madame Web movie seemingly confirm that Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney is NOT cast as Felicia Hardy, nor Spider-Woman, but instead as the live-action Spider-Gwen!

It'll Be a While Before We Know for Sure

News that Sydney Sweeney would be joining the cast of Sony's Madame Web (currently scheduled for a 2024 release) first hit the news back in March, but the specific character she would be playing has still yet to be announced. Fans speculated that she would be playing Felicia Hardy aka the Black Cat (first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #194). Then in August, various outlets started reporting that she would be assuming the role of Julia Carpenter, the second Spider-Woman (and also the second Madame Web), but recent on-set photos show Miss Sweeney bearing an uncanny resemblance to a version of Gwen Stacy better known to some as Ghost-Spider / Spider-Gwen.

Granted, the strawberry-blonde coiffe could favor the red-headed Julia Carpenter, but it seems like a bit of a waste of a high-profile actress in such a niche role. Julia Carpenter made her first cameo appearance in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #6, with her first full appearance as Spider-Woman in Secret Wars #7 (appearing on the cover as well). Her origin would be told the in the much later West Coast Avengers #84, and she would assume the Madame Web mantle in Amazing Sider-Man #637.

What we seemingly know for sure is that Dakota Johnson is reportedly playing the lead character, Cassandra Webb, aka Madame Web (first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #210), and Isabela Merced is set to play Anya Corazon, aka Araña (first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #1) who eventually becomes Spider-Girl (in Amazing Spider-Man #637).

Several photos of Isabela as Anya have already found their way online and considering that everything looks better than most people have expected, we should expect all of the relevant keys to spike.

The ship has already sailed on an affordable first printing of the first Spider-Gwen in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (which in 9.8 hasn't sold for less than $1000 in a long, long, time), but subsequent printings with very cool covers, like the 3rd Printing Variant, while still rare are much more affordable (only about 10-15% the cost of a standard 1st printing). Whether or not we get Spider-Gwen in the Madame Web film, she will absolutely be returning in the next Into the Spider-Verse animated film, as well as multiple video games. The character is also a cosplay favorite, beloved by all.

Since the previously referenced Amazing Spider-Man #637 is a multiple-key that contains the Deaths of Cassandra Webb, Sasha Kravinoff, and the Grim Hunter, and the 1st appearances of Julia Carpenter as Madame Web, Kaine as Tarantula, and Anya Corazon as Spider-Girl, this seems to be a very under-the-radar comic. There are only 126 total copies in CGC 9.8 with a last recorded sale under $200. The FMV on a 9.6 is less than $50.