Marvel Studios’Black Widowwill introduce Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While movigoers widely assumedthe character is intended to take on the Black Widow mantlefrom Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff, Pugh appeared to be less certain when discussing the possibility of reprising her role in future Marvel films.
A decade after making her first appearance inIron Man 2, Johansson’s Black Widow will finally take the lead as the primary protagonist of her own standalone film. WhileBlack Widowwill explore Romanoff’s past before she joined the Avengers, the film is also expected to lay the groundwork for a successor to take on the mantle after the eponymous heroine sacrificed her own life inMarvel Studios’Avengers: Endgame.
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After Pugh was cast as Yelena Belova, she became the most likely candidate to carry the torch in the eyes of fans primarily due to the fact that she is one of the characters to assumethe Black Widow monikerin the comics. During an interview with Total Film, Pugh commented on the excitement she feels about what the future could hold should she be invited back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, Pugh seemed to indicate that whether or not she will reprise her role as Yelena depends on the reception towards her character, saying, “if that happens and I am lucky enough that people appreciate my character, that’s an exciting road to go on. I would be silly to not be excited by it. I think that being part of the Marvel club is a great honour. But we’ll just see if people like Yelena first.”
Johansson, on the other hand, seemed more confidant that Pugh’s character could return as the star of aBlack Widowfilm series. “I definitely felt that way from the very beginning. She stands completely on her own. She’s strong and different. She’s so different to Natasha,” Johansson said of her co-star. The long-time Marvel star added that some of the differences will stem from the age gap between Natasha and Yelena, saying, “you also see the generational difference, too, in how they react to things, and what they’re careful about, or what they’re careless about.”
Due to COVID-19, fans may have to wait a while longer before sharing their thoughts on Pugh’s performance as Yelena Belova. Originally scheduled for an early summer 2020 release,Black Widowwas among the first Hollywood blockbusters topush back its release datein response to the theater shutdowns brought on by the pandemic.
Now, it appearsDisney is considering delayingBlack Widowonce again, likely meaning another shakeup of the Marvel Studios' entire line-up of Phase 4 features. Should the film be postponed until 2021, it would make 2020 the first year without a Marvel Studios film being released in theaters since 2009.
Black Widowis scheduled to be released in theaters on Jun 05, 2025.
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