Scarlett Johansson's MCU Return: A Chance to Rectify That Black Widow Regret!
Scarlett Johansson's Back in the MCU! But is Black Widow Returning?
Scarlett Johansson is back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)! That’s amazing news, right? It was recently announced! This comeback sparked immediate anticipation, yet there is this one key question which remains unsaid; is Black Widow’s return finally happening? After all, Johansson's powerful performance as Natasha Romanoff was key to the MCU's early success; a vital part of those original six Avengers that defined so many elements early on. And Natasha's emotional journey in that very powerful Avengers: Endgame (2019) left fans heartbroken and in complete awe of her powerful personality.
Her contribution however is also incredibly notable because her absence and her treatment by Marvel initially shows just how some initial planning created very uneven representation in this huge and important franchise; leading to the eventual but necessary realization which resulted in creating a solo film later on.
The Black Widow & Hawkeye Conundrum: A Missing Piece of MCU History
We always wanted more Black Widow stories – and particularly earlier on! Those initial MCU Phase 1 movies featured solo films for Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk, creating very specific stories centered on that individual superhero's trajectory; the subsequent success also impacted how additional movies got produced! That success, which was built by having very early standalone titles starring that initial cast; Black Widow and Hawkeye were surprisingly left out. That glaring absence didn’t quite seem fair– leaving many fans wanting those origins and a proper standalone story focusing entirely on those individuals; emphasizing the long-term significance and impact that Black Widow's entire role had and continues to have within the overall MCU's plotlines!
It took ages for those individual narratives – Black Widow's solo film, as well as Hawkeye's Disney+ series (2021). Those developments showcase a crucial realization on the behalf of the executives, after several fans vocalized their needs. Yet their later storylines still miss a key aspect:
Johansson herself mentioned that it didn’t fully realize those deeply personal dynamics that should have been presented. She mentioned a regret over having missed that amazing chance during an interview! Specifically calling out that absence of having that long-time Hawkeye-Black Widow relationship properly established. Their legendary Budapest mission? Mostly mentioned – never truly shown! It’s a pretty glaring omission. Her role as Black Widow didn't truly allow all that nuanced character exploration and development for those viewers. We totally agree.
Johansson's MCU Return: Producer, Not Actor… (Yet?)
That change to her status remains a major question, and this return and these subsequent roles have some significant meanings. Johansson's back but not as Black Widow. She's an executive producer on Thunderbolts (2025); That’s super cool! She made amends after those previous legal battles; it's a total vindication and reconciliation!
Thunderbolts has key figures from Black Widow, so this is an extremely clever decision and a great strategic point which really highlights those elements of character involvement that were critically important; including those who directly contributed to how well her character performed within the storyline and could also mean those key aspects are carefully chosen in ways that wouldn't impact others who might wish for that complete return as an actress. And those rumors linking Johansson to another MCU project, only increase this feeling! But that remains merely speculation!
The Potential for Black Widow 2: A Prequel-Sequel Approach
The timing couldn’t be more perfect: Those previous statements of having finished her time are likely meant in terms of those previous narrative directions already completed; showing those critical events are over – yet Johansson's desire to create those missing stories involving Black Widow and Hawkeye’s relationship create huge anticipation.
A Black Widow sequel—partly a prequel? That is the only direction that really makes sense! It could work using Black Widow’s existing timeline. The narrative would feature both flashbacks (Hawkeye-Black Widow’s past) and current-day scenes (perhaps Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Hawkeye finishing an unsolved case) tying it perfectly into the bigger picture – while addressing the missing plot details previously highlighted. Such creative directions were actually previously voiced by audiences.
The Urgency of a Black Widow Return Before It’s Too Late
This might never happen. It remains uncertain whether it will; yet those initial predictions and statements remain very positive. That potential MCU reboot (post-Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027) could very easily completely remove Johansson’s Black Widow, replaced with a new actor – greatly shortening that window of possibility and time available. This emphasizes the overall urgency surrounding the need for another title, the importance of acting fast in case there’s unexpected circumstances that might negatively affect any planned storyline developments!
A cameo in an Avengers movie, while a nice little consolation prize for longtime fans, still isn't really adequate and still completely misses those major issues relating to this entire character arc. That’s even more concerning given Renner’s post-accident situation. Even if Renner remains, those comments expressing completion and possibly a retirement really might cause Marvel to replace him (with Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop) so an extremely tight schedule presents this potentially impossible challenge for these characters, but also something that remains important to achieve and resolve; addressing some serious unmet narrative demands from various fans!
Conclusion: Hoping Marvel Seizes This Incredible Opportunity
Johansson’s return opens huge doors! A Black Widow sequel (possibly a prequel/sequel blend)? The perfect blend of narrative opportunities with potential to resolve major existing ambiguities regarding her entire story arc – which is truly what all the viewers might actually want! Marvel needs to seize the moment; using that existing nostalgia for that important character to reignite the entire franchise and produce more critically well-regarded moments similar to those from Black Widow (2021) while also fulfilling the demands for additional story arcs. Doing this requires acknowledging that audience participation and using what information the writers are aware of concerning what these people wish for, in those critical times involving production. Any future developments, delays and changes that might occur would be completely unacceptable for Marvel to ignore. They really need to make it happen – now, before it's totally too late. We might miss it forever, and those unmet storylines from many fans' desires could result in future conflicts. They seriously need to do this right!
