After a decade of playing the role of Black Widow in Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, Scarlett Johansson has confirmed that her time with Marvel has come to an end. During an interview on The Goop Podcast with fellow MCU actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the two stars shared their thoughts on their time in the superhero franchise.
Johansson reminisced about the experience, describing it as «adult summer camp» and «so much fun» to do the Avengers films. However, when asked about her future in the MCU, the actress confirmed that her chapter with Marvel has closed. «I’m done. Chapter is over. I kind of did all that I had to do,» she said.
In contrast, Paltrow, who played Pepper Potts in several MCU films, including Iron Man and Avengers, revealed that she would be open to a return, stating that her character never died, leaving the possibility for a comeback. Johansson even joked that Paltrow could return even if she was «a 64-year-old Pepper Potts.»
Johansson’s character, Black Widow, met her end in Avengers: Endgame in 2019, but the actress returned for the standalone prequel movie, Black Widow, released in 2021. However, the film’s release was marred by a lawsuit filed by Johansson against Disney, claiming that her contract was breached when the film was released simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming service, Disney+. The lawsuit was eventually settled, with Johansson stating that she was «happy to have resolved our differences with Disney.»
Johansson’s departure from the MCU comes as the franchise moves into a new era with the introduction of several new characters and storylines.