Scarlett Johansson does not plan to return to the MCU after Black Widow. After being in the works at Marvel Studios for over a decade, Natasha Romanoff's first solo outing was initially announced at San Diego Comic Con in 2019. No one could have anticipated other events as the COVID-19 pandemic eventually put the film in a state of perpetual delays. Now, the wait is almost over as Black Widow opens in theaters on Friday, July 9.

Since it was initially announced, it has long been assumed that Black Widow would be Scarlett Johansson’s swan song as the titular character, considering that she sacrificed herself in Avengers: Endgame to obtain the soul stone. For her last hurrah, Black Widow flashes back to a time after 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and before 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War when Nat is still on the run for violating the Sokovia Accords. While the same questions about Johansson’s MCU future persist, the Black Widow star is now reiterating her stance.

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Along with many fans, Johansson has waited a long time for Black Widow to be seen by the world. Now that it is almost here, Johansson, who has portrayed Natasha Romanoff since 2010’s Iron Man 2, is being pressed with questions about her place in the future of Marvel’s cinematic universe. In an interview with Variety, Johansson addressed the big question of whether Black Widow will be her final portrayal of Natasha Romanoff:

I never feel like my work is done. I still think of new ways I could try lines from movies I shot 10 years ago. I really am happy with the work I accomplished in my last decade-plus at Marvel. I feel like I’m going out on a high note with a movie I’m incredibly proud of. I feel like my work with Natasha is complete, if that is such a thing. I’ve explored many facets of her person, and feel that her choice to sacrifice her life for her best friends was one that she made actively and with resolve.

Scarlett Johansson walks as Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow

Johansson’s answer does not definitively rule out the possibility of future MCU appearances, but she does seem content with this being her final portrayal. If Black Widow is Johansson’s last MCU film, it would be a great time to go out on top. Early reviews are commending her first solo adventure for its entertaining action, with plenty of praise for Johansson and the supporting cast’s performances.

With Infinity War, Endgame, and Black Widow acting as her trio of final MCU appearances, Johansson will be able to hang up her costume proudly. However, the door will always likely remain open for future appearances, much like it has for Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., the latter of which is even rumored to appear in Black Widow. While it doesn’t seem like Johansson will be returning to the MCU anytime soon, some of her Black Widow co-stars will be in Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova is expected to carry on Natasha’s mantle once she is gone.

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Source: Variety

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