Scarlett Johansson, Marvel’s master assassin Black Widow, became the highest-paying actress in H-Town for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. Johansson’s journey, from playing Natasha Romanoff in 2010’s Iron Man 2, playing the character in seven more blockbusters as a part of the Avengers family, to a standalone 2021 movie, The Black Widow, has been truly remarkable. Now, the lady has officially declared that she won’t be returning to MCU.
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (2010)Scarlett Johansson Is Truly Done With MCU
During an appearance on a recent episode of The Goop Podcast, Iron Man 2 co-stars, Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow declared that they won’t be making a return to the MCU. When the two-time Academy Award nominee asked Paltrow if she was done with MCU, she responded, “I think so.”
Johansson, on the other hand, disappointed her fans, straightaway declaring that the Marvel days are behind her now. The 38-year-old star expressed that she is through playing the Black Widow role, stating “I’m done.” Johansson continued:
“I’m done. The chapter is over. I did all that I had to do. Also coming back and playing a character again and again like that, over a decade of time, is such a unique experience.”
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff
Scarlett Johansson joined the MCU family, playing Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2. She continued playing the character in seven blockbuster movies, joining the “sausage party” as a part of the Avengers family. Though Romanoff died in Avengers: Endgame (2019), she finally got a standalone movie in Black Widow (2021).
Black Widow’s Legacy May Live On!
Scarlett Johansson’s films have grossed a whopping $1.3 billion worldwide, and her time with Marvel continues to remain legendary. Being a major feature of the MCU, her time in Black Widow’s role came to end twice.
When she died in the 2019 Avengers: Endgame, going full kamikaze to get the Soul Stone to beat Thanos, she managed to make a return in 2021’s Black Widow, a prequel that introduced Natasha Romanoff’s potential MCU replacement, her sister Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh).
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
Johansson’s departure from the MCU was first brought up in 2021 when it was announced that Black Widow would be her final Marvel film. The irony of it is that in 2019, Johansson, who was also a producer on this movie, called Black Widow a “standalone franchise.”
Now, she announced her departure, stating, “I did all that I had to do,” conveying that she has accomplished everything with this character. But again, if one digs into the post-credit scene of the 2021 film, there’s still hope for the character.
The post-credit scene includes a connection to Yelena Belova’s upcoming MCU appearance with Thunderbolts, and this gives her a chance to take over as MCU’s new Black Widow, continuing the legacy. Black Widow (2021) is streaming for all subscribers on Disney+.
