As Marvel Studios continues expanding its universe, fans frequently speculate about which beloved legacy characters might return. Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of Black Widow has left a lasting impact on audiences, but the actress recently opened up about why she’s hesitant to reprise her iconic role.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Johansson shared thoughtful insights about potentially returning as Natasha Romanoff:
“It would be very hard for me to understand in what capacity [returning] would make sense for me, for the character that I play. I miss my buddies and really would love to be with them forever, but what works about the character is that her story is complete. I don’t want to mess with that. For fans too—it’s important for them.”
Johansson first portrayed Natasha Romanoff in 2010’s Iron Man 2, and her character’s journey reached an emotional conclusion with her sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame. Her standalone film, Black Widow, provided further closure, deepening the character’s legacy. Johansson’s perspective underscores a strong commitment to maintaining the narrative integrity of Natasha’s storyline, as returning might diminish the emotional weight of her sacrifice.
While it’s unclear if Marvel might explore alternate ways to involve Johansson via multiversal storytelling, for now, she appears firm in her decision. Fans will have to wait and see how, or if, Marvel ever chooses to revisit Black Widow’s legacy.