Black Widow is a name with a notable legacy within Marvel comic book lore. Many individuals have carried that moniker, including Claire Voyant – one of the earliest costumed, super-powered women to appear in comics. While audiences today associate the name with a cat-suited Scarlett Johansson, Black Widow has also been the name of not only a mystical being possessed by Satan, but also a Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. who was the ex-wife of Nick Fury. She’s even been a serial killer with cannibalistic tendencies.
But, for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and indeed, comic book movie fans everywhere – the version of Black Widow we see on the big screen today has become a symbol of female determination and capability. Within the juggernaut franchise, through films of varying quality, she’s evolved into a complex character, whose loyalty and choices can determine the outcome of the fiercest battles. She has a rich history that’s still being revealed, even after so long, and a dynamic relationship with each of her avenging colleagues.
So, with that in mind, it’s with great excitement that we can now confirm Marvel will finally be making a Black Widow solo film – after much demand from fans. That’s according to The Wrap, who tell us that Blacklist Screenwriter Jac Schaeffer is penning the script. Though not a household name, she’s “best known for her work on the 2009 sci-fi romance TiMER, which she wrote and directed.” Aside from that, we’ve got no other details to go on, but still, this news is sure to put a smile on the face of many, many people. Even if the film is probably several years away from hitting the big screen.
As for who might be in the director’s seat, well, again, it’s far too early for those kind of details to be revealed, but Thor: Ragnarok‘s Taika Waititi has spoken about taking a stab at the character in the past. He’s already expressed an interest in collaborating with Marvel again in the not-so-distant future, too, and if the stars align and Waititi’s placed in control of the Black Widow spinoff, he’d seemingly uncover the “funny version” of Miss. Romanoff’s harrowing backstory.
In a recent interview, he said the following:
In all honesty, I reckon I could probably bring something pretty unique to any of the franchises. So, I’d love to see Black Widow. [I’d like to see] Black Widow as something crazy and a bit funnier than we expect it to be. Because we know her story and it’s very sullen and very dark and her history is very dark. But! What’s the funny version of that? What’s the more entertaining version of that?
Whether Waititi gets his wish or not remains to be seen, but if there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that Black Widow is finally – finally! – getting her own movie, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
