Scarlett Johansson has confirmed that she will not be returning to Marvel. The actress played Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanoff, in several Marvel films, including The Avengers and its three sequels. She was also set to star in her own solo film, Black Widow, which finally released in 2021 after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite suing Disney over the film’s simultaneous release on streaming and in theaters, Johansson settled with the company and expressed disinterest in returning to the Marvel franchise.
In a recent interview with Gwyneth Paltrow for The Goop Podcast, Johansson confirmed that she is done with the franchise. When asked if she would return, she replied: “That chapter ended. I did everything I had to do. Also going back and playing a character over and over again, for a decade, is a unique experience.”
While it seems unlikely that Johansson will return as Black Widow, it is not impossible. Actors have claimed to retire from roles before, only to return some time later, as seen with Hugh Jackman’s return to Wolverine for Deadpool 3 after retiring from the character following Logan.
Marvel’s cinematic universe has been successful due to its cohesive narrative and talented cast of actors. However, recent releases, such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, have not been as well-received by audiences and critics alike. Despite this, films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels are set to arrive in theaters soon.
Regardless of what the future holds for the Marvel franchise, it is clear that Scarlett Johansson’s time as Black Widow has come to an end.
