Ever since Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow made her MCU debut in 2010's Iron Man 2, fans of the character have been clamoring to see the SHIELD spy take the lead in a standalone project.
Over 10 years and one death later, this wish will finally be met in Black Widow, which will release in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access on July 9, 2021.
One Black Widow mystery that many viewers have been clamoring for years to see put to screen is her Budapest mission with Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye that was first mentioned in an offhand comment in 2012's The Avengers.
After a long wait, it appears that the truth behind the Budapest mystery will finally be revealed in Black Widow as Natasha returns to the Hungarian capital years later.
HOW BUDAPEST TIES INTO BLACK WIDOW'S PLOT
In the Black Widow press kit officially released by Disney, Natasha Romanoff actress Scarlett Johansson explained the decision to revisit The Avengers' age-old Budapest mention in the long-awaited solo film.
Johansson revealed that from the beginning when the talks regarding filming locations first began, they “all agreed that we had to find out what happened in Budapest:”
The film takes Natasha to Budapest, a city where she once participated in a mission with Clint Barton. Says Scarlett Johansson, “When we first started talking about locations—back when everything was possible—we all agreed that we had to find out what happened in Budapest.”
The Black Widow actress went on to explain that “Natasha is haunted” by what happened in Budapest as there is “unfinished business and a sense of guilt that follows her around” because of it.
According to Johansson, the movie is “not about what happened in Budapest” but it helps to explain the “heaviness that Natasha walks around with,” and it serves as a “great jumping-off point” for the rest of the film's plot:
“I think Natasha is haunted. She has this huge sense of doom. There’s unfinished business and a sense of guilt that follows her around, and it all stems from what happened in Budapest. The film is not about what happened in Budapest, but it helps us understand the heaviness that Natasha walks around with and what her burden is. It gave us a great jumping-off point for a lot that goes on in the film.”
The press kit also included comments from producer Brian Chapek, who explained that Natasha will return to Budapest due to “a very important MacGuffin with a clue that reminds her of her past.”
Additionally, Chapek revealed that the Eastern European trip will also lead to Romanoff's reunion with her sister, Yelena, as the two “haven’t seen each other for 20 years:”
“What leads her to Budapest is a very important MacGuffin with a clue that reminds her of her past—a sign that comes from Yelena, who she realizes is in Budapest. They haven’t seen each other for 20 years.”
In further comments from Johansson, the actress shared her love for Budapest as she calls it a “beautiful city” and an “iconic place that [they] might get into all of these crazy situations.”
The Oscar-nominated star went on to explain that the city gives the film a “great Eastern European vibe” that “the Marvel Cinematic Universe has never really explored before:”
“Budapest is such a beautiful city, and it felt like an iconic place that we might get into all of these crazy situations. It’s visually very exciting and gives a flavor that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has never really explored before—this great Eastern European vibe, which is so fun.”
WILL FANS DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENED IN BUDAPEST?
Within storytelling, a MacGuffin is an object or event that is critical to the plot, however, has little significance in itself. With under a month to go until release, fans don't have long to wait to discover what may take Johansson's spy back to Budapest and how it could tie to her past.
Whatever may have taken place in the Hungarian capital, the events have clearly had a dramatic impact on Natasha due to the business left unfinished in the city. While fans will finally discover what Black Widow and Hawkeye got up to in Budapest, it's unlikely the solo film will show the events that transpired but will instead describe them.
However, if a flashback sequence returns to the SHIELD duo's legendary mission, it could open the doors for Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton to make a cameo appearance. An appearance from the archer would certainly be an excellent way to further explore the significance of the mission and the effect it had on Barton, too.
Black Widow hits theaters and Disney+ Premier Access on July 9, 2021.
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