Johansson Wants All-Female Marvel Movie (Even Without Black Widow)

Marvel star Scarlett Johansson says she’s pushing for an all-female Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, even if her character Black Widow isn’t included in the film. Marvel Studios’ MCU celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, with a decade having passed since the franchise launched with Iron Man in 2008. Then, this year the MCU wrapped up the series’ story thus far, called the Infinity Saga by Marvel, with Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Over the decade since the MCU kicked off, Hollywood has changed and taken major steps forward in terms of representation and diversity, and the franchise has fallen slightly behind. In fact, it wasn’t until earlier this year that the MCU got its first solo female-led movie with Captain Marvel.

Considering Captain Marvel made over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, it’s clear moviegoers are ready for more female superheroes not only in the MCU but at the theater in general. Though Avengers: Endgame had a fun A-Force moment, fans have been clamoring for a full movie focused on the MCU’s female characters. However, with the MCU’s Phase 4 slate planned out through 2021, and nothing confirmed, it’ll be some time before an A-Force or otherwise female-led Marvel film can be released. But fans can rest assured knowing that the stars of the MCU are continuing to push for such a movie.

Related: MCU Will Soon Have More Female Heroes Than Male Heroes

Speaking to Variety about her upcoming movie Jojo Rabbit, Johansson was asked about the prospect of an all-women Marvel movie. Johansson says she’s “pushing” for such a film, though she’s unclear whether her character, Natasha Romanoff aka. Black Widow, would be involved considering she was killed off in Avengers: Endgame. However, she’s returning to the MCU and kicking off Phase 4 with the Black Widow solo movie, which is set before Avengers: Infinity War in the MCU timeline. Johansson said:

I don’t know what my future is in that world. Obviously, it’s a little more opaque for my character. But that group of actresses is so incredibly powerful and when they come together, it’s explosive and unstoppable. So yes, I’m pushing for that. I think audiences want it and I’m definitely one of them.

Based on Johansson’s answer, she does seem to be downplaying Black Widow’s involvement in a potential A-Force or all-female Marvel movie. That makes sense since the MCU is introducing more female heroes in Phase 4 – like Jane Foster becoming Thor, Kate Bishop joining the Hawkeye Disney+ TV show and the Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk series. So it seems likely an all-women movie would be set after the events of Endgame, making it impossible for Johansson’s Black Widow to be included. That’s not to say Marvel couldn’t do an all-female film set before Infinity War, but it would make less sense in continuity and fewer female characters would be available.

Still, it would be a shame for an all-female Marvel movie not to include Black Widow, since she was the first significant female hero of the MCU and the only original member of the Avengers that’s a woman. That said, Johansson’s character is receiving her own solo movie, which will introduce Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, a character from Marvel Comics who also uses the Black Widow moniker. So it’s possible for an all-female Marvel movie set after Endgame to include Black Widow – just not Johansson’s Black Widow. For now, though, fans will just have to wait and see what the MCU has in store for Black Widow and the rest of its female superheroes.

Next: Every MCU Character Confirmed For Phase 4

Source: Variety

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Marvel Cinematic Universe

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