Not long after Iron Man 2 hit theaters in 2010, Marvel Studios’ President of Production Kevin Feige revealed during a press conference that Marvel was chatting with Scarlett Johansson to develop concepts for a potential Black Widow spin-off film.
Black Widow of course, is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent first introduced in Iron Man 2 who appears in a more prominent role in The Avengers this week, and with the character’s profile and popularity increasing as a result, there’s an even greater chance of Black Widow solo film becoming a reality alongside additional confirmed “appearances.”
It’s not only the sexy Russian spy who has solo film potential, but Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye character (and Black Widow’s partner) as well. Renner of course, is a hot ticket in Hollywood and was highly sought after to not only take over the Mission: Impossible franchise from Tom Cruise, but to continue the Jason Bourne series as a replacement for Matt Damon’s titular character. Hawkeye had a cameo appearance in Thor and plays an important member on The Avengers roster alongside Black Widow – both lack superpowers, both have elite military training, and both characters are being explored by Marvel Studios as potential stars of their own spin-off Hawkeye and Black Widow movies.
While I do not believe Hawkeye will ever get to headline his own film, Black Widow has a slightly more realistic chance of doing so. In chatting with Movieline during The Avengers press tour, Feige addressed the potential of the studio exploring more of Black Widow’s story and whether or not the character could earn her own solo film among Marvel’s packed slate.
“Well, I think you saw it in Avengers. I think that’s one of the many amazing things Joss Whedon can do. I think people are going to be surprised by how powerful Scarlett is in this movie, and how evolved her role is. We have already planned her next appearances and where to take that character because we believe in it and we believe in her in a big, big way. When will there be a standalone? Both is what we’re heading toward. A lot of it is that we’re only going to make two movies a year, maybe sometimes it’ll be one movie a year like this year, maybe someday it’ll be three movies a year just depending on what comes together. But really, it’s two movies. So there’s kind of a backup on the runway right now in terms of when can something go. We do like when some of the characters appear in other people’s movies.”
Marvel Studios is making each and every film to serve a greater purpose as a device to introduce and expand the franchise or to make bank at the box office. A Black Widow film would need to somehow tie into an Avengers sequel or with the widely talked about SHIELD movie, so it’s more likely that a SHIELD-centric story will be where characters including Black Widow and Hawkeye would get their own adventures and more screentime. We know from chatting with Johansson ourselves that she will not be appearing in Iron Man 3, but from Feige’s words, she will show up in something over the next two-three years before The Avengers 2.
With Kevin Feige confirming that Marvel Studios will only be doing two movies per year going forward (possibly even three if Ant-Man can get off the ground), there’s very little room for additional solo character pieces, especially with Thor 2 and Iron Man 3 releasing next year, Captain America 2 in 2014, and according to the latest rumors, potentially a third Hulk film in 2015. Marvel must fit in The Avengers 2 somewhere in there (2015) as well as Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man, and Feige is still name-dropping Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange and Inhumans as other films Marvel is developing.
Not too mention Black Panther, Heroes For Hire, etc. If Black Widow and/or Hawkeye is to have their own stories told, it makes the most sense to push ahead with a SHIELD film that could focus on them, their partnership and histories, and it could work to setup The Avengers sequel. Such a film would fit very well alongside Captain America 2 (and Ant-Man) in 2014.
[Update: Black Widow returns for Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014 while Ant-Man gets an official November 2015 release date.]
And if Ant-Man is about a SHIELD spy, what a great way to tie all of those 2014 movies together and give more opportunities to boost the Black Widow/Hawkeye branding…
The Avengers stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgard. It is of course written and directed by Joss Whedon, opening in North American theaters on May 4, 2012.
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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes if you’re a Marvel fan.
Source: Movieline
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The only way she has a good shot with a main movie role would be SHIELD with nick fury and black widow, maybe Hawkeye, but I can defiantly see Hawkeye with his own film.
Nick Fury does not have to be in it. She can have her own movie title where she does crimes and something bad happens yada yada yada SHIELD Finds her and takes her in as there own speically oped trained Agent YW Black Widdow
am totally wit u on that
It would be nice to make a movie of the infinity war…where all marvel heroes clashes against villains…
You do realize that was the Avengers correct?
umm no I think he ment EVERY SINGLE GOOD GUY AND BAD GUY.
LMAO,
female action flicks don’t bring great numbers….then what abt the hunger games….which even titanic couldn’t break…WAKE UP PEOPLE AND SMELL THE COFFEE..just becoz u don’t like female action flicks…keep that to yourself…Black Widow can have a solo film and she doesn’t need nicky fury or hawkeye to support her…don’t go to theatres to watch it simple…i am sure even then the film do well.
and yeah elektra, supergirl, and catwoman were pathetic becoz the makers never cared for those movies they just wanted to create female counterparts for their male leads (daredevil, superman and batman) people still love all these heroines and i am sure they can bring great numbers if they get great scripts too.
I want a Ms. Marvel solo movie starring Yvonne Strahovski.
Make it so Marvel! Make it so…
I second that request.
I think Scarlett is doing just fine.
You might need to consider using full stops in your sentences. It is grammatically correct and actually quicker than using pauses….
better pay attention towards the topic rather than my writing style.
FIRST OF ALL, ARE YOU GUYS JEALOUS? BECAUSE BLACK WIDOW STOOD OUT AND OUTSHONE EVERYONE IN THE MOVIE?
NO, NO , NO! Black widow was spectacular but i think that every AVENGER had an equal opportunity to show off their moves.
i know, i was just pissed off by the unnecessary trash thrown on black widow. i just can’t take it.
I think either Widow or Hawkeye could headline a movie, and certainly they could pull off a movie together. However, Hawkeye needs a standout, signature suit and some really cool “tech” arrows, and other stuff, like range finding goggles,etc..
Don’t say that man he had arrows with bombs attached to em what more does he need
It’s stupid to do solo films when it should be a joint Hawkeye/Black Widow movie. It’s obvious the two have great chemistry on screen with these characters and since their pasts are intertwined in Avengers and previously in SHIELD we could get flashbacks to when Hawkeye was sent to kill her but chose a different path.
Its actually a great idea. However Marvel doesn’t know how to promote female action films so give it to Lionsgate or Sony. There Female action films do good in box office. (Resident Evil, Underworld, Hunger Games, Salt) and actually paramount did really good with promoting tomb raider, that also brought money in. I am a huge fan of the black widow, I read all of her comics(= She needs her own film because they did in avengers do some info on her.
Yes! I would love a Back Widow movie! Of course, a Hawkeye movie would be nice, also. After seeing Avengers I’m sure we’re all eager to find out how exactly each of them remembers Budapest.
Although I’m also interested in the logistics of the plot – specifically backstory – seeing as Natalia “Natasha” Romonov was, in the comics, born in 1928. A lot of her history has to do with Cold War KGB’s “Black Widow Project” which will have to be somehow changed if she’s still so young in 2012.
Whether it follows the comics or not, though, I’m sure it’ll be great! Although I really would like a Hawkeye movie, too…
If you are going to do a black widow movie, do it now while she’s known to the public.
You keep suggesting that a Black Widow film needs to be SHIELD centric, possibly tieing in with Avengers 2.
I would be more interested in a BW prequel/origen story. The Russian agent/criminal turned “Good Guy” Possibly involving the brainwashing she alludes to in Avengers. And ending the film with the offer to work for SHIELD.
thats just what i was thinking too
Verry intresting hmmm ill think on that one.
Okay so this is what Marvel is trying to do in dummy terms: They need more movies. There thinking of making a Black Widow movie, or perhaps a Hawkeye movie. BUT because they are trying to make a second or third movie of its original standards to other movies. Such as: “The Hulk 3″ “Iron Man 3″ “Captain America 2″ “Thor 2″. Considering the thought, we need a bad ass agent movie about a woman who kicks butt. Still we could fit Hawkeye in everybody is all over “The Hunger Games” so it would also be good to make a film about the regular shooting arrows concept, except that would make 4 movies so far with Bows and Arrows in them (including the avengers) it would be Hawkeye’s movie “Brave” and we also again have “The Hunger Games”.
Hawkeye would be a good
Hawkeye would be a good be a good idea of a new MARVEL movie “ant”so would ant man. But the wasp,miss marvel,and the vision from the avengers tv series should to. Im just saying.
seriously i think black widow has a great shot at a movie hawk eye i’m not so sure
What is a lodger? cos Black widow (Scarlett Johansson) kept saying she got red on her lodger in Avengers Assemble but i couldn’t work it out though the movie
she said ledger, and it’s like a work slip -Because she used to be the one fighting against good, not for it.
I’m all for a black widow/hawkeye movie
I mean dayum ScarJoe is just figgin hot!!
And J.Renner’s career has really taken off, and he’s quite likeable. So I’m rooting for him as well.
I think it would be best if they made one film for both characters
And call it “The Cronicles of SHEILD” or something. Make it a prequel like interlude to what leads us to the Avengers epic. As per say in avengers movie there were many referential material between BW and Hawkeye. Its as though they’ve set it up for a spinoff. I think should. It’l be awesome to see what we didn’t see, as well as how Sheild formed.
For. Sure there will be some movie with origins of Sheild, much like the underrated and best X-men movie evar “First Class”
Give us a movie featuring BOTH Black Widow and Hawkeye, and please tell us WHAT HAPPENED IN BUDAPEST? and how did Scarjo get a lot of red in her ledger.
I think maybe if they do not have space for single movies they should double them up. Kinda how like in avengers it changed povs and then when sheild sends hawk eye to kill black widow they merge together
Yes, they did mention that they were trying to space out all of the marvel movies, ( Captain America 2 Thor 2 Ironman 3 Avengers 2) over the span of 2013-2015. And they said that they didnt know where they could fit in another movie if they did two a year. So if they combined Hawkeye and Black Widows pasts together than that could be a great opportunity as an opening for the Avengers 2 in 2015
You’ll see plenty of them in the new Cap movie i’m guessing.
They should be a spin-off film with both of them in it since they are partners and both are agents.
Yea that would make sense, if marvel did it right then maybe they could introduce a new bad guy and have that be the opening for the avengers 2…and like myself, tons of people are probably wonder what happened in Budapest that made black widow and the hawk bond so closely…
BUDAPEST?!
Wow this is great. I Loved the first captain America movie and Ironman so glad there will be sequels!!! Plus I really want an avenges sequel!!!!!!!! They should make a black widow and hawkeye movie because I love their characters but they don’t have much screen time plus Scarlett Johansson is such a good actress
If they make a black widow movie, they said it would be her backstory. I agree with that because it would be way more interesting as she has such a great.. Well not great but.. Youknowwhatimean… And it also means that Hawkeye will play a bit part in it do iamallfor please marvel??
I think that Hawkeye and Black Widow could have a very successful film together. They both had great chemistry during the Avengers movie and hope that they dig a little more into their pasts.
black widow and hawkI together yeah, but Black widow 2 should be the bad guy, 2 black widows fighting would be a.w.e.s.o.m.e.!!!!!
yelina belova or whatever?
that would be awesome! a bit more like bourne action, but coooooolllll!!
Scarlett said that herself! She can see it, wants to do it badly, why not? i would go and see it a bunch of times, heck, i would LOVE to act in it. marvel, did u hear that?
I think on topic like Neil, Jonathan Crane & others here: it’s a no brainer I guess in this case for Marvel, they’ve 2 stars to play BW & HE, that have even hot chemestry together, plus a story practically already hinted before (how badass Romanov had been & the redemption road toward SHIELD)…why not putting together all the pieces of the puzzle then? Adding as a plus to the mix Nick Fury, Maria Hill & Agent Coulson as well (since it’d be a sort of half flashback/backstory plot I imagine), to complete the picture.
Working like this TPTB would have that sort of S. movie leading forward to the next Avengers film too.
)
No matter the good intentions just noticing how they are used to work up to this point, it’s clear that they are giving the green light mostly to popular heroes with super powers, leaving the others to fill secondary roles; perhaps they are scared to have a film too similar to MI, Bourne etc? who really knows at this point…let’s hope though that TPTB won’t delay too much these special agents’ film in favour of just another hero-movie (like you know, please not Iron Man #4 for the moment).
Bye (happy new year BTW!
i agree. they are overdoing it with the iron man movies. and another Hulk? please. i like hulk, don’t get me wrong, but they’ve done it to many times. explore new horizens! find some new heroes to feature. In this case being black widow and hawkeye.