For all the wins in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the years, there has been one continuous hole in the series. Most of the Avengers have had not just movies, but whole trilogies. One of the team’s most fascinating characters – played by one of the most bankable of stars – has been left to help MCU storylines limp along and to add humanity to some of its characters. It’s Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow that I’m talking about, of course. Fans have been clamoring for a standalone Widow film, and now the Captain himself seems to have confirmed that it’s happening.
ET Canada asked Captain America star Chris Evans about Black Panther‘s success and he says in the video above that “there’s nothing [Marvel] can’t do, man.”
“I’m sure it’s going to have the same effect when Captain Marvel comes out and then when the Black Widow movie comes out. Marvel just has the winning recipe,” Evans continued.
Captain Marvel is in production now to hit theaters next spring. Costume shots have leaked from sets, complete with amazing 1990’s hair styles. Black Widow, on the other hand, has barely been whispered about by Marvel proper.
Johansson has portrayed the double agent in five Marvel flicks – Iron Man 2, two Captain America films, and both Avengers movies. She’ll be appearing in Avengers: Infinity War this spring and, presumably, Avengers 4.
Johansson knows time isn’t on her side. Marvel’s boys are often assisted by muscle suits and visual effects, while Johansson has a catsuit that could probably stand to zip up a little further (we’re in combat, you guys).
“If I did [a Black Widow movie],” Johansson told Variety back in 2016, “I’d have to do it while I still actually wanted to wear a skin-tight catsuit. I don’t know how much longer that’s going to be.”
Johansson said at the time that the movie would have to have “its own specific vibe.” Watching the success of Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther, two successful Marvel movies informed deeply by their directors’ styles and sensibilities, it’s actually not hard to imagine that. Captain Marvel is on the way with a 1990s setting, so that will definitely have its own vibe, too.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t an official announcement from Marvel. This could be Captain America going rogue like he did in Captain America: Civil War, trying to make the movie happen by acting like it is. Or maybe he’s been briefed on top-secret information that wasn’t meant to be public yet. It’s pretty strange to hear him speak of the movie as if it’s been announced when we’ve had little more than rumors.
Whether a Black Widow movie happens or not, we’re already looking forward to Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, Ant-Man and the Wasp on July 6, and Captain Marvel on March 6, 2019. That’s plenty to chew on for the time being.
