Scarlett Johansson, a stalwart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has firmly declared that her character, Black Widow, is "dead" and she doesn't seem keen on reprising the role anytime soon. In a recent interview with InStyle, Johansson addressed the future of her iconic Avenger while looking forward to her role in this summer's big-budget film, Jurassic World Rebirth. Despite the significant impact Black Widow, or Natasha Romanoff, had on her career, Johansson appears to have moved on from the character.
"Natasha is dead. She is dead. *She's dead.* Okay?" Johansson emphasized, responding to fans' persistent calls for her return. "We’re going to *have* to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment." Johansson last portrayed Black Widow in the 2021 standalone film, but the character met her end in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, sacrificing herself to save Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye. Despite this clear narrative closure, fans continue to speculate about potential returns for Black Widow and other deceased characters.
"They just don't want to believe it," Johansson remarked about the fans' refusal to accept her character's demise. "They’re like, ‘But she could come back!’ Look, I think the balance of the entire universe is held in her hand. We’re going to *have* to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment."
The MCU has a history of bringing back beloved characters, and upcoming films like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are speculated to feature numerous cameos, further fueling fan theories. While Robert Downey Jr. is set to transition from Iron Man to portray Doctor Doom, rumors have also circulated about Chris Evans potentially returning as Captain America, though he has denied these claims. Additionally, Hayley Atwell’s Agent Carter, who has died in the MCU not once but twice, is rumored to appear in the Doomsday project.
As fans eagerly await the release of Avengers: Doomsday on May 1, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027, speculation about who might return, living or dead, continues to swirl. For those interested in keeping up with the MCU, a comprehensive list of every upcoming movie and show is available. Additionally, fans can catch the latest episode of Marvel's recent project, Daredevil: Born Again, premiering its third episode tonight.
