[WATCH] Marvel Marks Beginning of MCU Phase 4 With 'Black Widow' Trailer
Marvel Studios has been putting a lot of effort to produce female-led films, and they finally opened a door for one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The renowned production company released the first official trailer of "Black Widow," a standalone movie that will focus on Natasha Romanoff's past life.
Marvel's new Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige first mentioned the possibility of a solo "Black Widow" movie back in 2010 after they cast her in Iron Man 2.
"We've already started discussions with Scarlett about the idea of a solo movie and have begun putting together concepts. But The Avengers comes first," Feige stated almost a decade ago.
In 2018, Marvel Executives restated their interest to make the spinoff movie, and a year later, they started working on it.
"Black Widow" is set to hit the big screens on May 1, 2020 to mark the beginning of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4. There are also other notable upcoming additions to the studio such as "The Eternals" with Angelina Jolie as the lead, and "Thor: Love and Thunder" with Natalie Portman.
"Black Widow" Not A Sequel
"Black Widow" will be Scarlett Johansson's first solo Marvel Cinematic Universe movie but unfortunately, her character died in "The Avengers: Endgame," making this movie a prequel instead.
When she was asked by Entertainment Tonight about the prequel, she answered, "Closure? I hope so."
Meanwhile, fans expect that this "closure movie" will introduce the next Black Widow, who will reportedly replace Johansson on the Avengers team. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 4 is expected to end in November of next year, and it is likley Johansson will no longer be in the casting anymore.
Johansson is said to be one of the last original Avengers members to have a solo movie under Marvel Studios. Her co-stars Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) starred in numerous individual movies over the past years.
Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), whom she spared her life to secure the Soul Stone in "Avengers: Endgame," will have his own "Hawkeye" series on the newly-launched Disney+.
Mark Ruffalo, despite being one of the original cast, cannot be on a solo "Hulk" spinoff since it is Universal Pictures' job to launch a stand-alone Hulk movie due to his character ownershp rights.
Black Widow's Successor?
Since Marvel released a full-length "Black Widow" movie just in time to mark the beginning of Phase 4, the studio seemed to also use it as the perfect opportunity to introduce Johansson's successor: Florence Pugh.
The trailer gave a first glimpse on Natasha's sister, Yelena Belova, who trained for the KGB. Natasha left Yelena in Russia and jetted to the U.S to work for S.H.I.E.L.D before she became one of the founding members of the Avengers.
In the original Marvel comic books, Pugh's character truly took over Johansson's role -- both as a Black Widow and a member of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Since MCU already showed that some newer generations will replace the original cast (i.e Steve Rogers handed Captain America's shield to Sam Wilson in "Avengers: Endgame"). There is a huge possibility that Pugh will follow Johansson's footsteps as "Black Widow".
