Scarlett Johansson was recently revealed to have returned for a MCU's best movies. Black Widow had an emotional arc in the MCU that ended with her death in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. I was heartbroken by it, and Natasha's final scene was incredibly touching.

I always wanted to get more of Black Widow in the MCU, especially in the franchise's first few years. While Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk had solo films in the MCU's Phase 1, Johansson's Black Widow and Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye did not get similar treatment. The characters would only get their time to shine many years later, with Johansson's Black Widow movie and Renner's Hawkeye series on Disney+ coming out in the same year, 2021. I would love to see the duo come together again in a future MCU project to deal with Johansson's MCU regret.

I Agree With Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow & Hawkeye Comments

The MCU Missed Some Crucial Events

Recently, Scarlett Johansson revealed that she has Hawkeye and Black Widow regrets. Asked during an interview about which character from her career she would have liked to go back and see the origin story of. While Johansson's Black Widow film explored key parts of Natasha Romanoff's backstory, such as her makeshift family and the Red Room, the star chose her MCU character. According to Johansson, the reason for that is the actress would have "loved to have seen the Hawkeye, Black Widow, some of that stuff." Renner's Hawkeye had an uncredited voice cameo in Black Widow, which was not enough.

I enjoyed Johansson's Black Widow movie, especially due to how much it revealed of her mysterious past. However, I have to agree with the actress, as I felt Hawkeye's absence was definitely strange. Natasha and Clint have one of the best friendships in the MCU, and Marvel never explored how that came to be. While we got nods to their past through dialogue, 2021's Black Widow could have finally shown how they got together or featured a sequence of their famous Budapest mission with the two beyond Hawkeye's voice cameo. I hope it's not too late to get that.

I’m Hoping That Scarlett Johansson’s MCU Return Changes Her Black Widow Decision

The Actress Seems To Be Done With The Hero

Five years after her latest MCU appearance in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, Scarlett Johansson has found her way back to the franchise. However, there is a catch. Johansson is not back in the MCU as an actress. Instead of reprising her role as Black Widow, the star is an executive producer on Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*. I think that it makes a lot of sense for Johansson to be involved in the 2025 Marvel movie. The reason for that is due to Thunderbolts* featuring Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster, all characters who made their MCU debuts in the Black Widow movie.

Confirmed Thunderbolts Cast Member	Character The Actor Plays
Sebastian Stan	James "Bucky" Barnes, A.K.A. The Winter Soldier
Florence Pugh	Yelena Belova, A.K.A. Black Widow
Wyatt Russell	John Walker, A.K.A. US Agent
David Harbour	Alexei Shostakov, A.K.A. Red Guardian
Hannah John-Kamen	Ava Starr, A.K.A. Ghost
Olga Kurylenko	Antonia Dreykov, A.K.A. Taskmaster
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine
Harrison Ford	President Thaddeus Ross
Lewis Pullman	Bob (Sentry)
Geraldine Viswanathan	Unconfirmed

Though Johansson is only back as an executive producer on Thunderbolts* at the moment, she is already rumored to be involved with another MCU project in the same capacity. Her return behind the cameras to the MCU is exciting, as Johansson previously filed a lawsuit against Disney due to Black Widow having been released in theaters and on Disney+'s Premier Access at the same time. Now Johansson is on good with the company and back in the MCU, there is a chance that she could change her stance on returning as Black Widow.

I believe that after Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans returned to the MCU in acting roles, Marvel could push Johansson to do the same.

In 2023, Johansson was blunt about her Black Widow return chances. At the time, the actress said, "I’m done. Chapter is over." Interestingly, Johansson also talked about having done all that she could as Black Widow. However, the actress has now revealed that she would have loved to have explored more of Black Widow and Hawkeye's early relationship. The timing of that reveal matching her return to the MCU has me excited. I believe that after Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans returned to the MCU in acting roles, Marvel could push Johansson to do the same.

Marvel’s Black Widow Movie Is The Perfect Example Of How To Fix The Hawkeye Issue

Natasha Romanoff Does Not Have To Be Resurrected

Black Widow's MCU timeline offers the perfect way for how the MCU could see Johansson return to the role and explore her past with Renner's Hawkeye. Marvel Studios would not have to undo Natasha Romanoff's sacrifice, as the franchise could take a page from the Black Widow movie. I think that a Black Widow sequel that is once again a prequel, at least partly, could be the project to feature Johansson's Black Widow return. The idea of Clint Barton ing Natasha on the anniversary of her death is a potent one for me. Flashbacks could then follow their adventures together.

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Split image of Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova looking serious

Scarlett Johansson’s MCU Return Makes A Major Black Widow Theory Seem Almost Inevitable

Now that Scarlett Johansson is involved with the MCU once more, the vindication of a big Black Widow theory now feels like it's only a matter of time.

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That said, with the Multiverse Saga being divisive, I believe that every Marvel movie is going to be focused on bringing major new events to the franchise. As such, a partial prequel story for Black Widow 2 could perhaps be the way to have Johansson back as Natasha. Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova could team up with Renner's Hawkeye in the present to finish a case he and Natasha worked together in the past. The story can then cut back and forth in time, showing how Black Widow and Hawkeye's past adventures intertwine with Clint and Yelena's present-day mission.

Marvel Needs To Bring Johansson’s Black Widow Back Before It’s Too Late

The Multiverse Saga Might Completely Change The MCU

While I am now more confident that we may get more of Johansson as Black Widow, I also fear that a full-on project with the character might not happen before time runs out for Johansson. An MCU reboot is rumored to happen after 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. If that is accurate, then a new actress would most likely take over as Natasha Romanoff after the reboot. This would also present a very short window for Johansson to return as Black Widow in the MCU.

I still think she could return within that window, but it would likely be as a cameo or guest role in an Avengers movie, not allowing her to fix her Hawkeye and Black Widow regrets. Even if the MCU is not rebooted, Renner might choose to step away from the franchise after Avengers: Secret Wars. Clint Barton has had a long run, and with Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop set up to take over for him, as well as Renner's recovery from the snowplow accident, he might retire soon from Marvel. As such, Johansson's Black Widow return has to happen quickly.