Marvel fans will have to wait just a bit longer for Black Widow, which has now been delayed to May 7, 2021. Theater executives were pleased with the decision, grateful that the film would maintain its theatrical run as opposed to a Disney+ release.
The delay was a bit peculiar though, as marketing was seeming to ramp prior to the film's initial release. Florence Pugh talked about her character Yelena Belova and how the film would center on the "abuse of women." Pugh also discussed her future in the MCU going forward.
A spoiler-filled rumor suggested that a past MCU character would also be returning for an appearance in the film, further tying Black Widow to the rest of the MCU.
Another remnant of Black Widow's original November release has been unveiled, coming in the form of new comic artwork...
NEWS
Marvel Entertainment revealed brand new variant covers for various Black Widow comics via their Twitter page, going into a bit more detail on their website. Each artwork is based on the MCU's Black Widow, taking inspiration from the designs and characters from the film.
The first cover is illustrated by Jen Bartel for Black Widow (2020) #3, depicting Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff all suited up. The cover features Bartel's trademark realism combined with vibrant, saturated colors, making for visually striking artwork.
Next is the cover for Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1, illustrated by Chris Samnee. This cover is a stylized, movie poster-like piece of artwork, reflecting the espionage themes of Black Widow.
The main players of Black Widow are featured here, including Black Widow herself, Yelena Belova, Taskmaster and Red Guardian. Soldiers are also shrouded in smoke in the background, suggesting that Romanoff is on the run.
The final cover by Stefano Caselli is for Black Widow: Widow's Sting (2020) #1, picturing Black Widow in her new suit for the film. Natasha is seen running through a facility here, possibly to extract a certain red friend of hers.
A smaller illustration of Black Widow is also placed in the upper left hand corner of the cover, harkening back to comic book covers of old.
These covers seem to be have been meant to coincide with Black Widow's original release in November. With the film's delay to next year, it is likely that Marvel Studios was unable to move its marketing in time for the announcement.
Regardless of the timing of their release, all of these comic book covers look spectacular and manage to capture the essence of the film perfectly. All of the covers interpret the film in different ways, each honing in on different aspects.
Jen Bartel's artwork depicts Black Widow herself, presenting the power of her character and how she exists as a symbol to many Marvel fans. Chris Samnee's art represents the overall tone of Black Widow, conveying both the spy-thriller genre and the familial nature of the film's characters. Stefano Caselli's artwork is inspired by events from the film itself, taking a scenario from Black Widow and portraying it a dynamic comic book cover.
Black Widow is set to release in theaters on May 7, 2021.
