As it stands, Marvel Studios has yet to announce any movies beyond this year’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, but it’s widely predicted that the first entry in the MCU’s Phase 4 will be a Black Widow solo film. And in a recent interview with Variety, Scarlett Johansson managed to discuss the project without outright confirming that it even exists.
When Variety’s Marc Malkin mentioned that Natasha Romanoff finally has a standalone outing on the way, Johansson offered a reminder that she’s under strict instructions from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige to say nothing:
“I guess. I’m not able to say a thing. Earlier today Kevin was like, ‘We haven’t announced anything!’”
Nonetheless, when asked why it’s taken so long for Black Widow to get her own solo film, Johansson was able to share a few thoughts:
“I think everything happens when it’s supposed to. All I’ll say is I have a greater understanding of the character now than I ever possibly could have had before. I think that whatever iteration you may or may not see of this character in the future will be the better for it.”
Malkin went on to recall hearing from Avengers: Endgame scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely that the hardest character to write for is Black Widow, because she’s a heroine of few words. In response, Johansson acknowledged that they may’ve had a point, while sharing further insight on her role:
“She is stoic. I think she is a cerebral person and she takes action and she’s very pragmatic and she’s a thinker. I think she chooses her words carefully.”
It could be interesting to see how director Cate Shortland manages to base a whole film around such a quiet figure, but it sounds like Johansson is pretty confident in her character. Since her solo film is generally assumed to be an origin story, perhaps we’ll find out how Nat’s stoic persona was formed, as well as delving further into the troubled backstory that’s only been hinted at until now.
So far, no release date has been officially announced for Black Widow, but now that Endgame is finally in theaters, perhaps Marvel can finally ease up a little on all the secrecy surrounding the MCU’s future.
