Scarlett Johansson's solo Black Widow movie will finally explain The Avengers' Budapest reference. When Natasha Romanoff returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the team-up movie, audiences were still getting to know the former Russian spy. Her backstory has been hinted at repeatedly across multiple MCU appearances, but Black Widow will be the first time she is the focus of a film. Due to her death in Avengers: Endgame, the long-awaited solo movie is a prequel set immediately after Captain America: Civil War.

This setting for Black Widow gives it a chance to fill in the gaps of Natasha's story between betraying the Sokovia Accords and joining Captain America's Secret Avengers team. Although a reunion with her "family" and a fight with Taskmaster will be at the center of the movie, Natasha's past will be fleshed out in other ways. Marvel Studios will have the chance to answer lingering questions like what happened with Dreykov's daughter, but fans have also been optimistic Black Widow's legendary Budapest mission with Hawkeye will be revisited.

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The first mention of Black Widow and Hawkeye's mission in Budapest came in The Avengers when Natasha remarked that the Battle of New York was like Budapest all over again. Clint Barton responded by saying, "You and I remember Budapest very differently." Fans have continued to wonder what actually happened there and the marketing for Black Widow included signs that the city could be visited. It is now confirmed that the movie will finally reveal what happened all those years ago. Johansson confirmed this to be the case in an interview included in Marvel's Black Widow: The Official Movie Special Book.

We all agreed that we had to find out what happened in Budapest. That started out as this throwaway line which Joss Whedon threw into Marvel’s The Avengers as a funny moment between Hawkeye and Black Widow. That’s Clint and Natasha talking about their history, and you get a fun little Easter egg for fans to theorize about. We thought that if we don’t go back to Budapest and find out what really happened there, people will feel unsatisfied. I wondered what did happen there?

We often talked about what is going on in Natasha’s head. I really think that Natasha is haunted by the fact that she has this past that she feels so guilty about. Unfinished business is that sense of guilt that follows her around, which all stems from what happened in Budapest. Black Widow is not about what happened in Budapest, but it’s a huge jumping-off point for us to understand the heaviness of Natasha’s burden.

The confirmation of the original Budapest mission factoring into Black Widow is sure to be welcomed news for fans. But, it remains to be seen exactly how it will be done. Many want to see Jeremy Renner appear in a flashback that shows part of the mission. Co-Producer Brian Chapek said in Marvel's Black Widow: The Official Movie Special Book that evidence of what happened can be seen in Natasha's apartment in the film. It's possible that these background details will be the only way Black Widow highlights Budapest, although Johansson's comments on what transpired there paint a different picture.

Quite possibly, the most fascinating part of Johansson's quote is the idea that Budapest was a defining mission for Natasha. Since the mission has only been referenced through some quick jokes, fans' interest in seeing it mostly stemmed from the chance to see Natasha and Clint on a mission together. However, it now sounds like Budapest played a vital role in the path Natasha chooses. Perhaps Natasha failed to save someone in Budapest because she wasn't willing to sacrifice herself. If she has to confront that failure now, then Black Widow could help set up why she's so determined to save everyone in Avengers: Endgame and was willing to die to make it possible. Hopefully the movie isn't delayed again so we can all discover what happened in Budapest in May 2021.

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Source: Marvel's Black Widow: The Official Movie Special Book

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