Scarlett Johansson Is Returning To The MCU As Black Widow

Since Scarlett Johansson is already set to return to Marvel Studios as a crew member, I'm convinced that she could still reprise her iconic role of Black Widow in the MCU. Scarlett Johansson made her MCU debut as Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, in 2010's Iron Man 2, as a steadfast SHIELD agent and, later, a founding member of the Avengers. Despite being such a key part of the Infinity Saga, I never felt as though Black Widow was done justice, so I would love to see her return, and this now might be more possible than ever.

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Natasha Romanoff became an unfortunate casualty of the Avengers' battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, as she sacrificed herself so that Hawkeye could acquire the Soul Stone. I was glad she finally got some attention in 2021's Black Widow, even though this came after her demise, but Romanoff's first solo movie didn't hit the spot for me, and ended up leaving a bad taste in Scarlett Johansson's mouth, too. While Johansson is now returning to the MCU as an executive producer, I'm hopeful this could lead to a full reprisal of Black Widow in the Multiverse Saga.

Scarlett Johansson Is An Executive Producer On Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* Is Scheduled For Release On May 2, 2025

In September 2024, an official press release from Disney revealed that Scarlett Johansson had joined Marvel Studios' upcoming Thunderbolts* movie, one of my most highly-anticipated projects, as an executive producer. Back in 2021, Marvel boss Kevin Feige revealed that Johansson was working on a "non-Black-Widow-related top-secret Marvel Studios project" as a producer (via Comicbook), and it seems this marked her reunion with Black Widow co-stars Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Olga Kurylenko. Johansson returning as a producer on Thunderbolts* proves her relationship with Marvel is, thankfully, still strong.

For some time after the release of Black Widow, it seemed as though my hopes of Scarlett Johansson returning to the MCU would never come to fruition, as she was embroiled in an intense lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company. Johansson argued that the simultaneous release of Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+ breached her contract, which stated the movie would only see a theatrical release, ridding Johansson of valuable box office bonuses. This lawsuit was eventually settled in September 2021 under undisclosed terms, and Johansson's executive producer credit on Thunderbolts* seems like a sign of a rebuilding relationship.

Robert Downey Jr. & The Russo Brothers Are Returning For Avengers 5 & 6

Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars Will Release In The MCU's Phase 6

Following Jonathan Majors' arrest and conviction in 2023, it was inevitable that Marvel Studios was going to change the storyline for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, knowing that things would change couldn't prepare me and everyone else for the reveal that, not only were the Russo brothers returning to direct the next two Avengers movies, but these projects will star Robert Downey Jr., not as Tony Stark's Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom. This was a huge announcement that set a brand-new precedent for the MCU.

In a move that will demonstrate the weirdness and extreme possibilities of the multiverse, Robert Downey Jr.'s debut in the MCU as Doctor Doom opens the door for more classic MCU stars to return. Nobody expected Downey Jr. to come back after playing Iron Man for over a decade, and nobody expected Scarlett Johansson to return following her lawsuit against Disney. The Russo brothers also seemed unlikely to come back, but I'm even more convinced that Johansson could reprise her role of Black Widow after these huge developments.

Scarlett Johansson Could Play A Black Widow Variant

Scarlett Johansson Doesn't Need To Return As Earth-616's Black Widow

The magic of the MCU's Multiverse Saga means that Natasha Romanoff's emotional and impactful death in Avengers: Endgame can be retained. I would love to see Scarlett Johansson return to the MCU as a variant of Black Widow, perhaps one more faithful to her depiction in Marvel Comics, who has many more connections to her time in Russia. Of course, I think it would be great if Johansson returned as an entirely new character, akin to Robert Downey Jr., which would allow Romanoff's surrogate sister, Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, to officially become the MCU's new Black Widow.