There are no more cameos planned for Natasha Romanoff in any MCU movies or television shows after the release of Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson's swan song in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was released on July 9 in theaters and on Disney+'s Premier Access. A few weeks later, the actress filed a lawsuit against Disney over the release of Black Widow on streaming, shocking the industry and becoming one of the first big names to openly fight against studios and their decision to stream some of their biggest releases.

Johansson has starred in the MCU since 2010's Iron Man 2, appearing in 8 Marvel movies including her final solo outing. Thanks to her appearance in these films, Johansson was the highest paid actress in 2019. With over a decade of playing the high-powered assassin under her belt, though, Johansson was ready to pass on the mantle to Florence Pugh and her character, Yelena Belova. Still, some wondered if Johansson could appear in future MCU projects in a limited capacity due to the ever-evolving nature of the franchise and its introduction of the Multiverse.

Related: Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow Lawsuit Against Disney Explained

It seems that door is shut forever now, though, and Johansson knew it. Vulture reports that no future cameos in the MCU were planned for Johansson's character in both movies or shows. The report says that this fact "emboldened" the actress to file the lawsuit against Disney.

Black Widow Natasha in Norway

After Johansson's lawsuit, it's no surprise that there are no cameos slated for her longtime character. Still, the possibility was likely tantalizing for fans and the actress herself. Johansson could likely net a huge payday if she were to return, but that bridge may have been burned now. Johansson is known to have a close relationship with Marvel president Kevin Feige, who was reportedly angry about Black Widow's release even before the actress filed the lawsuit. This could be because he hoped for the actress to return at some point.

Despite the fact that many of the founding members of the MCU are reportedly done with their roles, rumors surfaced earlier this year that Chris Evans could be making his return as Captain America after retiring in Avengers: Endgame. For a franchise built on nostalgia, it's always a safe bet to keep these possibilities in the studio's back pocket. Unfortunately, the Black Widow lawsuit seems to have squandered any potential return for Johansson and the character of Natasha Romanoff to return, which ultimately may be for the best as the MCU moves on from its founding members and looks to its multiversal future.

More: Why Kevin Feige Would Be Angry Over Black Widow's Disney+ Release

Source: Vulture

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