Potential Spoiler Warning: If you haven’t seen Civil War, please tread carefully as there are some minor spoilers below.
Over the past eight years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has done a fantastic job at launching various franchises – Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor being the main three – all of which have led to The Avengers, a film that saw Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) come together for the epic team-up. At the time, Black Widow had only appeared in Iron Man 2 prior to returning for The Avengers, so her role in the ever-growing MCU was rather small. As time has gone on, however, Johansson’s character has become a vital part of the films, serving as Steve’s right hand in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and as one of the key players in both last year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, as well as the recently released Captain America: Civil War. Still, although Black Widow’s presence has continued to grow, there’s never been any concrete talk about the character finally leading her own solo film. For a while there, around the release of The Winter Soldier, it was revealed that Marvel was developing a standalone feature for the character, but as we all know, nothing actually ever became of that, sadly.
And when Marvel held a fan event in October 2014, where they ended up revealing the entire Phase Three line-up, many were again frustrated when there was still no evidence of a Black Widow movie anytime soon. Frustration that only continued to grow when Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige reiterated that while the character wouldn’t be getting her own film, she would go on to serve as an important figure in the MCU during Phase Three – something that Civil War proved. Still, that hasn’t stopped talk regarding a possible Black Widow movie from heating up again. Recently, Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed the last two Captain America films and will be directing the next two Avengers films, have not only showed interest in directing a Black Widow film, but have also called it a “no-brainer”. Their comments were later followed up with comments from Feige indicating that, while it wasn’t something that we’d get soon, a Black Widow movie was still a possibility. Even better? He then told Deadline that Marvel was “committing” to a Black Widow film in a more recent interview. So although there’s been nothing officially announced, there has been enough talk to make fans wonder if it was finally going to happen. After all, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, right?
Well, while we don’t know for sure what Marvel has planned, and whether or not they’re willing to adjust the Phase Three release schedule again, all parties definitely seem interested in pursuing a solo film for the fan favorite character – Civil War screenwriters, Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, included. During a recent interview with the folks over at The Wrap, McFeely and Markus explained why the character – who they’ve done a fantastic job of writing for in The Winter Soldier & Civil War – is primed for her own solo film.
“That character’s journey, over her various appearances, is one coming out of the shadows and into the light,” screenwriters Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus told TheWrap in a wide-ranging chat before “Civil War”‘s release.
“We met her as Natalie Rushman, a spy in Tony Stark’s camp, then she joins SHIELD and at the end of ‘Winter Solider’ leaks all these secrets,” McFeely said of her Edward Snowden-esque move at the end of “Captain America: The Winter Solider.”
“She’s out as a good guy, and this is what it means to take on the responsibility of leadership,” Markus added.
With fans showing interest, having chosen the character as the Avenger they’d want to see lead their own film, and the Russo brothers – who played a big part in getting Spidey into the MCU – ready to see her get her proper due, one could only hope we’ll finally see some movement on a Black Widow film. After all, not only has Johansson proven herself capable of opening a film (Lucy being the best example), but she’s been ready to headline her own film for some time now. In the end, should a Black Widow movie happen, my only request is that McFeely and Markus are somehow involved as they’ve done a fantastic job at writing for her character in the last two Captain America films.
Black Widow can currently be seen in Captain America: Civil War.
Source: The Wrap.
