Sydney Sweeney examines career regrets as a “strategic business decision”
Sydney Sweeney has suggested that she took her role in the widely criticised Madame Web as a strategic business decision in order to build a connection with Sony.
Sweeney appeared as Julia Cornwall in the comic book adaptation, a young girl on the path to becoming a Spider-Woman. Dakota Johnson starred as the titular superhero, while Emma Roberts and Adam Scott took on supporting roles.
On a budget of $80million, Madame Web took home just over $97m at the box office. Following its release earlier this year, it has been mocked by critics and cinema-goers alike for poor writing and dull visuals. The failure of the film has prompted several of its stars to speak out, including Johnson, who admitted that she probably wouldn’t take on any similar projects in future.
Sweeney has now suggested that her decision to take part in the film was a strategic one that allowed her to get close to Sony, who distributed the film. During a conversation with GQ, the star suggested that the film was a “building block” that allowed her to “build a relationship with Sony”.
“Without doing Madame Web, I wouldn’t have a relationship with the decision-makers over there,” she explained, “Everything in my career I do not just for that story, but strategic business decisions.”
Sweeney stated that this growing relationship allowed her to sell her recent rom-com Anyone but You, which was distributed by Sony. Made on a budget of just $25m, Anyone But You outperformed Madame Web at the box office, taking in over $200m.
Starring Sweeney opposite Glen Powell, the film follows the pair as they embark upon a fake relationship that gradually becomes real. The Will Gluck rom-com isn’t set to secure award success or critical acclaim, but it is, nonetheless, a fun modern take on the genre with far more appeal to audiences than Madame Web.
Sweeney also suggested that her decision contributed to Sony’s upcoming remake of Barbarella, which she is set to star in and executive produce. Jane Fonda starred in the first on-screen adaptation of the comic book character in 1968, which was directed by Roger Vadim.
While Sweeney may have been subject to the ongoing criticism surrounding Madame Web, her decision to star in the movie has clearly helped her to secure other projects she is more passionate about.
Revisit the trailer for Madame Web below.
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