Scarlett Johansson Reveals Why The Black Widow Movie Will Be ‘Liberating’ For Her
Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame (if you actually haven’t seen it yet).
While some may have been surprised by Black Widow’s death in Avengers: Endgame, Scarlett Johansson had some time to process it. When talking to The Hollywood Reporter, ScarJo revealed when she knew Black Widow’s Endgame ending.
Johansson said it was Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige who broke the news about Black Widow’s final scene before starting production on Avengers: Infinity War. “The finality of it was sad,” she admits, “but I was excited to die with honor. It felt in-character that she would sacrifice herself, of course for humanity but actually for her friends, for the people she loves. It was bittersweet.”
Luckily, it’s not the last fans will see of Natasha Romanoff. In July it was officially announced that Johansson would star in a Black Widow standalone film that will kick off Phase 4 of the MCU, which also includes Thor: Love and Thunder starring Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson. According to THR, Black Widow is a prequel to Endgame that will catch up with Natasha after Captain America: Civil War.
Johansson will not just star in the film, but will also executive produce the picture, which she called “liberating in a way. I feel like I’m in control of the destiny of this film,” she added, “which gives me a lot more peace of mind. I know her better than anybody. What was her childhood like? What is her relationship to figures of authority? This character is gritty and multi-dimensional but has a lot of trauma and has led an unexamined life. In order to operate at this elite level, she has probably had to push away a lot of stuff.”
Black Widow hits theaters May 1, 2020.