Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson began her successful ᴀssociation with the MCU in 2010’s Iron Man 2 starring Robert Downey Jr. Since her debut with the franchise, the former child actor went from strength to strength to become a core member and the only female superhero of the Avengers Ensemble through her character Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow.
While Johansson ensured that her character’s prowess and skill matched her colleagues every step of the way, the celebrity was initially doubtful about the impact she would make on audiences worldwide. In an interview, the Match Point star spoke about the insecurities she felt while taking on the role of Black Widow and her doubts about doing justice to the Marvel superhero.
It is hard to imagine anyone other than Scarlett Johansson playing the iconic and swashbuckling Black Widow in the MCU. The Vicky Christina Barcelona actor who first portrayed the character in 2010’s Iron Man 2, had no expectations about how she would be received by audiences. Johansson, in a candid confession that appeared in the book, MCU – The Reign of Marvel Studios, spoke of not feeling worthy of the character initially, while also having doubts about the influence she would have on the narrative.
As it turned out, Johansson’s fear was completely unwarranted, with the celebrity gaining superstardom through her role as Black Widow, while also becoming a huge fan favorite.
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How Kevin Feige Got Scarlett Johansson Her Iconic MCU Gig
Apart from Iron Man and Captain America who are integral to the Avengers Ensemble, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow is also a significant member of the squad, especially with her development through the Avengers films following her debut in the MCU with Iron Man 2. The character though, almost did not make it from the Marvel Comics pages to the cinematic writing board when Avengers was being conceived.
Chairman of Marvel Entertainment, Isaac ‘Ike’ Perlmutter, was against the inclusion of Black Widow as he felt that female-led superhero films or female characters in Marvel were not big draws financially or with audiences when compared to their male counterparts. With director Joss Whedon adamant about getting a female superhero for Avengers, Marvel Head Kevin Feige stepped in to pull his weight.
The CEO put his career and position in the franchise on the line to ensure that Johansson’s Black Widow would fulfill her role as an Avenger. Feige’s persistence paid off, and The Horse Whisperer actor went on to become one of the most popular characters in the MCU along with being a very important link in the narrative.
