That Infamous 'Madame Web' Meme Was Cut From the Final Movie

When the trailer for Madame Web dropped in November 2023, there was one line in particular that made the rounds on social media, though it didn't seem to have much to do with the plot of the movie. Madame Web, played by Dakota Johnson, looks at a photo of a man and woman and says "He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died." The word salad quickly became a meme and drummed up anticipation for the movie, but it turns out the lengthy line didn't even make the final cut.

According to Vulture, the moment happens toward the end of Act Two of the movie. Johnson's Madame Web is explaining villain Ezekiel Sims' origin story to characters played by Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O'Connor, and Isabela Merced. The photo she holds depicts Sims and her mother, presumably in the Amazon researching spiders as the trailer detailed. But instead of delivering the now-iconic line, Madame Web simply says, "She was researching spiders."

It isn't totally uncommon for trailers to include lines or scenes that don't end up making the movie. Sometimes, these additions are simply to better explain the story and give as much information about the setting as possible in a short amount of time. The original line in the trailer certainly gave greater context for the movie, though it might have been cut from the film or simply added to the trailer in post-production because her mother's backstory is already shown on screen.

Madame Web hits theaters Feb. 14.