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As a devoted cinephile, I’ve always admired Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For nearly a decade, she embodied the indomitable Black Widow, a non-powered human who held her own against super soldiers and divine beings alike. However, it seems that there might be other compelling ways for Scarlett to reprise her role in this universe beyond just returning as Black Widow.

In a nutshell, Scarlett Johansson’s last portrayal of her MCU character Natasha in “Black Widow” (2021) marked a kind of goodbye, given Natasha’s fate in “Avengers: Endgame”. While her selfless sacrifice was emotional and concluded her MCU narrative beautifully, fans yearn for more of Johansson within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is particularly true following Robert Downey Jr.’s recent comeback. Although there are numerous ideas about how Black Widow might rejoin the franchise, it seems that Johansson’s potential return to Marvel could be in a more creative role, like being a director instead.

Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow Story Came To A Conclusion With Avengers: Endgame

Natasha Romanoff Sacrificed Herself For The Soul Stone

The initial group of six Avengers, as they were in their debut during Phase 1, had split apart by the time of the 2016 film, Captain America: Civil War. They reunited again in Avengers: Infinity War and survived Thanos’ Snap. Following the devising of the Time Heist plan in Endgame, it appeared that fans would witness the original six Avengers teaming up once more. However, during the final Battle of Earth, Black Widow was absent from the fight.

To secure the Soul Stone on Vormir, Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton understood that one of them must give up their life. After a heart-wrenching struggle to decide who would do it, Natasha made the ultimate sacrifice. Though numerous fans anticipated the demise of a significant Avenger in Endgame, Black Widow’s passing took many by surprise. Her selfless act was a poignant conclusion for a character striving to atone for her past misdeeds, but it’s regrettable that we won’t get to see more of Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow.

Scarlett Johansson’s 2025 MCU Comments Highlight Another Way She Can Return To The Franchise

Johansson Could See Herself Returning As A Director

After leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Johansson has frequently been asked if she might rejoin the franchise as Black Widow. Yet, she’s consistently indicated that her tenure as the character is concluded because there seems to be no viable method to resurrect her. Nevertheless, during an interview with Deadline at Cannes 2025, Johansson hinted at a potential return to the MCU in a new role. You can read her entire statement below:

In simpler terms, the speaker suggests that they enjoy action movies with a strong human connection. They found this balance while working on Black Widow and developing its story between Natasha and Yelena. They believe it’s possible to keep the themes of family, disappointment, and human connections from Eleanor the Great but in a grander scale within a vast universe, making it an exciting prospect.

Johansson recently showcased her directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great“, at Cannes. Previously, she’d produced a few projects, one of them being Marvel’s “Black Widow“. Despite some issues with Marvel following the film’s release, they still value her expertise. Given her deep understanding of the character in “Black Widow“, it’s clear she should consider more behind-the-scenes roles within the MCU soon.

Why Scarlett Johansson Returning To The MCU As A Director Could Be Perfect

The MCU Excels At Stories About Human Connection

Johansson expressed in her Cannes interview that she enjoys delving into the aspect of human relationships within stories. Despite the Marvel Cinematic Universe being recognized for its thrilling action and extravagant superheroes, it’s the grounded, human tales that have proven successful for the franchise. For instance, Captain America: The Winter Soldier remains one of the most cherished MCU films, and Thunderbolts* is being hyped as a return to form. Both movies center around the intricacies of human connections, suggesting that the studio should prioritize such narratives in their future projects.

*Note: Thunderbolts is a fictional team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It’s not confirmed if this specific project will be part of the MCU as of my last update.

As a cinephile, I might rephrase it like this: While “Black Widow” didn’t break box office records for the MCU, it’s a film that truly shines in numerous aspects. The complex bond between Natasha Romanoff and Yelena is undeniably one of its strongest points, as they mend their relationship after years spent apart under challenging circumstances. It would be a pity to see Scarlett Johansson reprise her role as Black Widow and negate the emotional weight of her character’s demise; however, she could continue contributing significantly to the MCU by directing future projects, harnessing the depth and insight she brought to the character of Black Widow in a new, behind-the-scenes capacity.

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2025-05-31 19:07