As fans are hopeful more of the original Avengers actors can return, one actress makes it clear she won't be coming back to the MCU!
Marvel Comics fans love to joke on how "no one stays dead" in comics. Scores of characters have been brought back from seemingly final ends and several have done it multiple times.
The MCU seems to play these deaths more final yet now and then, they have reintroduced some supposedly dead characters, either as ghosts or time travel. It's getting bigger with Robert Downey Jr to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, and there is buzz about the return of Chris Evans as Captain America.
Among the top names for a return is Natasha Romanoff. The Black Widow was an instant highlight when introduced in Iron Man 2 as a secret SHIELD agent spying on Tony Stark. Scarlett Johansson was well cast in the role, including some top-notch fight scenes.
Natasha would be a regular face in the Avengers films and two Captain America ones. Her story came to a dramatic end in Avengers: Endgame when she and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) traveled to collect the Soul Stone as part of a plan to restore those "dusted" by Thanos.
Told a sacrifice was needed, Clint and Natasha fought to do it. In the end, Natasha let herself fall, dying to save the universe. She did pop up in her solo movie, set before Endgame, which appeared to be the end.
Still, fans are naturally hopeful Natasha could pop up alive again somehow. There are many options from time travel to one of the various alternate realities of the MCU. However, Johansson appears to have put her foot down on that.
Will Back Widow return?
Speaking to In Style magazine, Johansson was asked about a return of Natasha to the MCU. Her basic response was that it was time for fans to let it go.
The actress stated,
"Natasha is dead. She is dead. She's dead. Okay? They just don't want to believe it. They're like, 'But she could come back!' Look, I think the balance of the entire universe is held in her hand. We're going to have to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment."
It's true a Natasha cameo in the MCU would be fun. Again, there are ways to bring her back while honoring her sacrifice, including some alternate reality version of her. There could also be flashbacks to Natasha on missions and interacting with "sister" Yelena (Florence Pugh).
However, Johansson's words are a reminder that Natasha's death was one of the most powerful moments of the MCU. After years haunted by her dark deeds as a killer, Natasha redeemed herself by giving up her life to save untold billions. To undermine that by bringing her back for a cheap appearance would be a disservice to the character.
Maybe Johansson could be talked into changing her mind but that would be a mistake. She's dead right in that Natasha went out a hero, there's no topping that in any return. So, as Johansson says, MCU fans should just let Natasha rest in peace as the Widow doesn't seem likely to return to the MCU.
All Avengers movies are streaming on Disney+.
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