Many fans considered Black Widow to be the only safe character in Avengers: Endgame , considering her standalone flick was already filming.
Well, so much for that.
Fans have learned that the Black Widow standalone film would take place in the past, leading many to assume this would be a one-off adventure for the MCU's resident Russian spy. However, new words from star Scarlett Johansson suggest there may be more than just one film for Natasha Romanoff.
NEWS
Could there be more Black Widow films in Marvel's future? Twitter account @BestfScarlett revealed a clip of Scarlett Johansson praising co-star Florence Pugh, where Johansson refers to Pugh as her "co-star in the Black Widow standalone franchise ."
This is not the first time Johansson has referred to Black Widow as a franchise. Back in October at the Elle Women in Hollywood dinner, ScarJo referred to her upcoming Black Widow film as a " standalone franchise ."
WHAT THIS MEANS
The language Johansson uses here is integral. She refers to Pugh as her co-star in the Black Widow standalone franchise; however, past rumors suggest this could be an age-old Marvel trick.
Pugh's fate in the upcoming flick has been debated, as toy leaks have suggested it may not end well for Natasha Romanoff's sister. ScarJo's tease of herself and Pugh being co-stars of multiple films may just be trying to throw fans off.
Even if Pugh's Yelena Belova doesn't make it out alive of 2020's Black Widow , there's no saying she could not return for a potential sequel in a flashback scene, or even play alongside Natasha the entire runtime if the future sequels take place even further in the past.
Marvel bait-and-switches aside, let's say there is a plan in place for more Black Widow stories. How would it work? Marvel Studios has proven they have a plethora of rich stories to tell, especially ones that take place in the MCU's past. As for storylines specifically for the MCU's dual-pistol wielding heroine, there are plenty of past teases fans would love to see explored further.
At the end of the day, it will all come down to box office. If Black Widow is a smash success, it is all but guaranteed to receive a sequel. Franchises like Ant-Man and Black Panther weren't green-lit for a sequel until well-after their inaugural theatrical runs. While Johansson clearly has aspirations for her superhero to become a franchise, it is likely that any further films under the Black Widow banner won't be confirmed until after this first one hits theatres.
Black Widow is scheduled to release on November 6, 2020.
MCU Writer, Editor, Podcaster
