Scarlett Johansson Feels "Liberated" By The Black Widow Movie

Natasha Romanoff's fate may have been sealed in Avengers: Endgame, but the inevitability of her demise hasn't deterred actor Scarlet Johanson from feeling excited about the upcoming Black Widow solo film--in fact, if anything, she feels "liberated" by the entire process and her newly minted executive producer credit on the movie. In a profile interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Johanson opened up about making the film, and her relationship with Marvel Studios as a whole.

"I feel like I'm in control of the destiny of this film, which gives me a lot more peace of mind," explained Johanson. "I know her better than anybody. What was her childhood like? What is her relationship to figures of authority? This character is gritty and multi-dimensional but has a lot of trauma and has led an unexamined life. In order to operate at this elite level, she has probably had to push away a lot of stuff."

She also praised her character's Endgame ending--but was quick to admit that it was a tricky thing to handle. "The finality of it was sad, but I was excited to die with honor. It felt in-character that she would sacrifice herself, of course for humanity but actually for her friends, for the people she loves. It was bittersweet."

As for her post-Black Widow future, Johanson doesn't think anything is set in stone. It seems unlikely that we'll be seeing a return for Natasha after her solo outing, however--Johanson was candid about her interest in directing new projects but "hasn't found the right fit" as of yet. It's also worth noting that she has not signed on to any of the MCU-related Disney+ projects and isn't among the confirmed voice cast of the animated What If…? Show that would allow Natasha to make a temporary return, even after her Endgame death. Unsurprisingly, it seems like we won't be seeing the original Black Widow--or at least Johansson's version of the original Black Widow--again in the MCU for the foreseeable future.

Black Widow arrives in theaters May 1, 2020.