Marvel movies have become synonymous with grandiose budgets, soundstage filming, and superheroes fighting evil. However, Madame Web takes a different approach from the traditional Marvel formula. Instead of costing $200 million, this film adopts a modest production budget. Unlike its predecessors, it is primarily filmed on location, bringing a refreshing authenticity to its scenes. Additionally, the protagonist, while resembling Spider-Man, is actually an evil character. Furthermore, while Marvel Easter eggs are customary in these movies, Madame Web deviates by purposefully concealing them. However, the most surprising aspect of this film lies in its focus on a superhero team that has never been given a proper name. Let’s delve into this peculiar group and their identity crisis.
Madame Web, known as a cryptic mentor in the comics, has a penchant for collaborating with various Spider-Women. In Madame Web, this enigmatic team comprises Celeste O’Connor as Mattie Franklin, Sydney Sweeney as Julia Cornwall, and Isabela Merced as Aña Corazón, who is often referred to as Araña in the comics. Upon meeting the cast during an interview at the Madame Web junket, the burning question of what this exceptional team would call themselves naturally arose.
The Birth of “The Boo Crew”
Amidst the laughter and camaraderie of the interview, Sydney Sweeney revealed, “We have our own group name for ourselves. Our group chat name. We like to go by ‘the Boo Crew.'” Isabela Merced added to the story, mentioning how it all started with Sydney gifting them matching sweaters. However, Celeste O’Connor promptly corrected Merced, playfully interjecting that her girlfriend was responsible for the matching sweaters. The trio fondly reminisced about their Boo Crew sweaters, even describing them as adorable to the point of inducing nausea.
While the Boo Crew may have its charm, the name possesses ambiguous connotations that might prove challenging to embrace fully. Sydney Sweeney lightheartedly joked, “Everybody’s just gonna be booing when we come in to fight.” As delightful as the Boo Crew may be, convincing the higher-ups at Sony and Marvel to adopt the name for the team within the film’s universe seems like an uphill battle. However, the cast members shared that they hadn’t pitched the name, or any other suggestions, to the studios. Recognizing the potential limitations of the Boo Crew, they explored alternative options during the interview.
As the conversation unfolded, Isabela Merced suggested names such as “Cheetah Girls” or “Destiny’s Child” as inspiration. Continuing the line of thought, Celeste O’Connor proposed “The Spidey Girls” as a refreshing and catchy alternative. The rest of the group responded enthusiastically to O’Connor’s idea, adding to the growing list of possibilities.
An Outsider’s Perspective
In a separate interview, Dakota Johnson, who portrays Madame Web, shared her own perspective on the team’s dilemma. When asked about potential names, Johnson admitted she had no ideas of her own but expressed curiosity about the Boo Crew group text. Unfortunately, she found herself excluded from this playful conversation, much to her amusement.
Madame Web: A Marvel Film Outside the MCU
Madame Web is the latest addition to Sony’s Marvel movies that exist separately from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As it defies the conventional Marvel movie norms, this film brings a fresh and unconventional take to the superhero genre. With an unconventional superhero team and an identity crisis of their own, Madame Web introduces a new narrative thread into the Marvel universe.
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