Entertainment Weekly’s coverage of Captain America: Civil War continues apace today, with the latest tidbit emerging from the outlet’s cover spread shedding light on Black Widow’s role in Joe and Anthony Russo’s mighty ensemble.
Reprising her role as the elusive spy is Scarlett Johansson, who spoke to EW about how we’ll be introduced to a slightly more independent Black Widow come 2016, and why she doesn’t necessarily side with either Team Iron Man or Team Cap from the off.
Arriving in tandem with the actress’ interview is a new still from Captain America: Civil War, situating Black Widow among the other members of Team Cap in what we assume is the latest high-tech building standing in for Avengers HQ. But Johansson doesn’t necessarily view her character as a member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
“I don’t think she’s ever aspired to become an Avenger. That’s not really a choice that she made. It’s kind of like the events in her life led her to that point and when we see her [in Civil War], she’s finally capable of making a choice for herself. Which is kind of a milestone in someone’s life when they’ve not really participated in the decisions that were made for them. She’s finally at a place where she’s going, ‘Okay, I actually kind of know what I want. And I think I kind of deserve it.’…Unfortunately the events that took place … she has this kind of greater calling and this huge pull towards doing what’s right for the greater good. And she chooses that, and it’s a really heroic thing that she does, I think.”
While we can hardly glean the finer elements of character development that Johansson speaks of in the teaser trailer, it’s exciting to learn that her badass agent will have a better chance to stand on her own two feet. Besides, Romanoff won’t have to handle babysitting duties for the Hulk, either, as Mark Ruffalo’s towering green rage monster is being reserved for 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. But when does her character enter the fray in Civil War?
“I think when you find her in Civil War, she’s looking to strategize her position, putting herself in a place where she is able to let the powers that be fight it out or whatever amongst themselves. She’s always a little bit on the perimeter so she can have a better perspective of what’s really going on.”
Captain America: Civil War is pegged for a May 5, 2016 release.