Scarlett Johansson, a veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has firmly stated that her character, Black Widow, is "dead" and she appears uninterested in reprising the role anytime soon. During an interview with InStyle, Johansson discussed her future, highlighting her upcoming role in the summer blockbuster, Jurassic World Rebirth. Despite her significant contribution to the MCU, where Black Widow played a pivotal role in her career, Johansson seems set on moving forward.
Johansson's last portrayal of Natasha Romanoff was in the 2021 standalone film, Black Widow. However, the character met her definitive end in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, sacrificing herself to save Jeremy Renner's character, Hawkeye. This clear-cut death hasn't deterred fans from hoping for her return. In response to such speculation, Johansson was emphatic: "Natasha is dead. She is dead. *She's dead.* Okay?" She urged fans to respect her character's heroic sacrifice, stating, "We’re going to *have* to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment."
The MCU has a history of reviving characters, and upcoming event movies like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are speculated to feature numerous cameos. While Robert Downey Jr. is confirmed to take on the role of Doctor Doom, other familiar faces are rumored to return. Despite Chris Evans denying reports of reprising his role as Captain America, and Hayley Atwell’s Agent Carter rumored to appear despite her character's multiple deaths, Johansson remains firm about Black Widow's fate.
Fans will have to wait until May 1, 2026, for Avengers: Doomsday and May 7, 2027, for Avengers: Secret Wars to see which characters, living or dead, will make a comeback. In the meantime, you can explore our comprehensive list of every upcoming movie and show Marvel has in the works, and don't miss the latest episode of Daredevil: Born Again, premiering its third episode tonight.
