The saga of Natasha Romanoff may truly be over, as Marvel Cinematic Universe veteran and Black Widow actor Scarlett Johansson says she’s done with the franchise.
Johansson made this proclamation while speaking to Variety, saying, “I’m done. Chapter is over. I did all that I had to do. Also coming back and playing a character again and again, over a decade of time, is such a unique experience.” During this, Johansson asked her MCU costar and Pepper Potts actor Gwyneth Paltrow if she was finished with the MCU, to which Paltrow answered that she believed she was, though Johansson joked she could come back at some point and Marvel Studios is “never gonna let [Paltrow] go.”
The idea that Johansson will no longer be involved with the MCU was first brought up back in 2021 when it was announced at the time that Black Widow would be her final Marvel film. Ironically, in 2019, Johansson said Black Widow which she was also a producer on — would start what she called a “standalone franchise.”
The Future of the Black Widow Franchise
Scarlett Johansson had hinted in a 2020 interview that the Black Widow movie could potentially launch a franchise, citing her excitement to work alongside Florence Pugh and learn from her. However, Marvel had not made any official announcements about such plans at the time. Since then, Johansson has left the MCU, making the possibility of more Black Widow films unlikely. However, Marvel’s Director of Visual Development, Andy Park, confirmed that the upcoming Thunderbolts movie will serve as a sequel to Black Widow.
Scarlett Johansson had previously praised her character, Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow), for being a positive role model for young girls. Johansson highlighted Natasha’s admirable qualities, such as her willingness to take responsibility for her mistakes, her integrity, and her ability to empathize with others. According to Johansson, Natasha’s acknowledgement of the pain she has caused or that others have experienced is a powerful message, one that she hopes to instill in her own daughter. While teaching compassion to children can be challenging, Johansson believes that it is an important lesson to impart.
