Will Scarlett Johansson Suing Disney Affect How Black Widow is Treated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
The recent legal action by actress Scarlett Johansson against Walt Disney Studios has sparked a wave of speculation about its impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), particularly regarding the character of Black Widow. While some have speculated that the lawsuit might change the treatment of Black Widow in the MCU, the reality is more nuanced and less likely to see significant alterations.
Part of the Reason for the Legal Action
Scarlett Johansson's decision to sue Walt Disney Studios is primarily motivated by financial considerations. She believed she should have received higher royalties for her film royalties due to competition with the online streaming platform Disney . However, the core issue revolves around the character's continuity and placement within the MCU narrative. The movie Black Widow was Johansson's last appearance as Natasha Romanoff, and her lawsuit suggests she was left with a sense of unfinished business and potential financial compensation issues.
Given her long-standing relationship with the role of Natasha Romanoff, spanning nearly a decade, it can be envisioned that she was hoping for a significant payday for her final performance, potentially leading to her being featured in a big-screen finale. The lawsuit could be seen as a futile attempt to secure her investment in the character's final tenure in the franchise.
Retaining the Multiversal Narrative
Despite the lawsuit, it is unlikely that the treatment of Black Widow in the MCU will undergo significant changes. The multiverse model of the MCU allows for multiple iterations of characters to exist outside the main timeline, which means there is still room for alternate versions of Natasha Romanoff to appear.
The upcoming series What if... is a prime example of this, as it delves into alternate timelines where Natasha might still be alive and active. Additionally, the character has already been partially replaced by Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh), who is now the primary Black Widow in the MCU. Yelena is not only a significant character in standalone projects like Hawkeye, but she is also a key player in the formation of the Dark Avengers.
The multiversal model does not necessarily mean a full retcon of the character's death, but rather the exploration of alternative plot lines and character arcs in other timelines.
Future of Black Widow in the MCU
The lawsuit from Johansson likely complicates the situation but does not necessarily mean that Natasha Romanoff will be completely removed from future projects. Her character's death is still a part of the main MCU storyline, and alternate realities or variants of Natasha are still possible.
However, the lawsuit certainly creates a frosty relationship between Johansson and Disney. Given these circumstances, it is more plausible that Natasha Romanoff will remain consistently dead in the main timeline. Moreover, Johansson herself has publicly stated that she doesn't want to return to the role, which removes any possibility of her reprising the part.
In conclusion, while Scarlett Johansson's legal action against Disney might not have a direct impact on how Black Widow is treated in the MCU, it certainly affects the likelihood of her personal involvement in future projects. The multiversal narrative provides enough flexibility for the character to remain relevant in alternate timelines, but the main timeline will continue to consider her death a definitive point in the MCU's storyline.
As the MCU continues to expand and evolve, it will be interesting to see how the death of Natasha Romanoff plays out across the multiverse. The What if... series and other spin-off projects offer a tantalizing glimpse into the potential alternate stories involving the character, but it is clear that her permanent absence in the main timeline remains a strong possibility.