One of the first things that struck director S.J. Clarkson about was that this was a superhero who did not have superhuman strength. And unlike Batman, she couldnB次元官网网址檛 just buy herself some. No, Cassandra Webb has a different kind of power: Clairvoyance.

This, the veteran television director found interesting.

B次元官网网址淚 saw the challenge of clairvoyance and the fact that it didnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily scream action as its biggest virtue,B次元官网网址� Clarkson said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. B次元官网网址淏ecause then we could explore the fact that you donB次元官网网址檛 need superhuman strength to be a superhero.B次元官网网址�

How does one depict clairvoyance? Well, for that, she turned to the movies, re-watching Nicolas RoegB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 Look Now,B次元官网网址� Christopher NolanB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢ementoB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淚nceptionB次元官网网址� and the WachowskisB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭he Matrix.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 just sort of went across the board looking at movies that had done that, you know, and some horror. I was trying to find that sort of thrilling, scary space,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淢adame WebB次元官网网址� (currently in theaters) is the first of SonyB次元官网网址檚 Spider-Man spinoffs (including B次元官网网址淰enomB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淢orbiusB次元官网网址�) that is centered on a woman. Clarkson had long admired as an actor and was thrilled to get the chance to direct her.

B次元官网网址淪he has such depth and breadth as an actor. She grounds everything. She finds the nuance and pathos in everything. But sheB次元官网网址檚 also very funny,B次元官网网址� Clarkson said. B次元官网网址淚t was important to me that we didnB次元官网网址檛 sort of, like, take ourselves too seriously. Yes, itB次元官网网址檚 a psychological thriller, but there needs to be moments of levity.B次元官网网址�

Johnson was excited about the prospect too, even if she never thought she would be in a comic book movie.

B次元官网网址淚 just loved that it was about a young woman whose power is her mind,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淎nd I thought that that was really important and inspiring.B次元官网网址�

And, perhaps most importantly, Johnson felt safe under ClarksonB次元官网网址檚 leadership.

B次元官网网址淪he just had everything under control,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 worry for a second that it wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to be great. Ultimately, like in the edit or even on set, itB次元官网网址檚 just, sheB次元官网网址檚 so detail oriented and she operates on such a high level B次元官网网址� I just felt really held and I really, you know, trusted her.B次元官网网址�

In Johnson, Clarkson said she found an B次元官网网址渋ncredible collaborator throughout,B次元官网网址� acknowledging the challenge of having to visually showcase the act of seeing into the future.

B次元官网网址淢any of those scenes that sheB次元官网网址檚 in, nothingB次元官网网址檚 happening. ItB次元官网网址檚 just her reacting and me saying, this is whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen in the future when we film it, right? It really was a bit like clairvoyance for her in that she didnB次元官网网址檛 actually get to see it,B次元官网网址� Clarkson said. B次元官网网址淪o to have that sort of partnership in that creative collaboration was imperative and invaluable, and we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have what we have without it.B次元官网网址�

Clarkson has television credits going back 20 years, to the BBC soap opera B次元官网网址淒octors.B次元官网网址� A journeyman director, sheB次元官网网址檚 helmed episodes of B次元官网网址淗eroes,B次元官网网址� where she first met a very young Sydney Sweeney, B次元官网网址淒exter,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淗ouse,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淥range is the New Black,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪uccessionB次元官网网址� and, most recently, all six episodes of NetflixB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淎natomy of a Scandal,B次元官网网址� which she also executive produced. And sheB次元官网网址檇 had some superhero experience too with MarvelB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淛essica Jones.B次元官网网址� SheB次元官网网址檚 found both times that the B次元官网网址渞ichness of the comicsB次元官网网址� provided her with an extraordinary foundation from which to leap.

B次元官网网址淭his is an origin story,B次元官网网址� Clarkson said. B次元官网网址淪o for me it was like, how can we get the spirit and the essence of this character, and how can we take the things that we know about her and then work backwards and find out what would make the most interesting, fulfilling story with as much depth and breadth of that character to bring her to where she is today and where we will know that sheB次元官网网址檚 going to be in the future.B次元官网网址�

The movie also has some easter eggs for Marvel superfans, including the name of a diner where a crucial showdown happens, and a hat tip to B次元官网网址淢adame WebB次元官网网址檚B次元官网网址� original creators, writer Denny OB次元官网网址橬eil and artist John Romita Jr.

But for Johnson and Clarkson, the ultimate goal to was to create something fresh.

B次元官网网址淚t feels really fun to be a part of something thatB次元官网网址檚 also kind of removed and fresh and a new kind of take on a superhero movie,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so grounded and itB次元官网网址檚 more of like a psychological thriller than what IB次元官网网址檝e seen superheroes do before.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO: