Marvel: from sexy sidekick to Avenger, Scarlett Johansson talks about the evolution of Black Widow
Since entering the MCU, Black Widow has been a badass heroine and a real sex symbol. Scarlett Johansson wanted to give more depth to her Black Widow.
April 2010. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is about to bequeath his company to Pepper when he meets an ultra-sexy secretary - Natalie - who is none other than Black Widow, a working superhero for SHIELD. This is Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson's very first appearance in the MCU. Then follow four Avengers, two Captain America, a Thor, two Spider-Man … All this until his tragic disappearance at the end of Endgame. The story of the Black Widow could have ended here; it will finally end with a solo film - highly anticipated - presented as a passing of the baton.
Days after Black Widow hit theaters worldwide, Scarlett Johansson is talking a lot about her role as a hypersexualized "charm" in the saga.
"I didn't come here to seduce, okay?"
During an interview with the American magazine Fatherly, the actress returned to her first appearances in the MCU, and the fact that she was often reduced to her role as an ultra-sexy warrior doll.
"When we did Captain America: The Winter Soldier - it's kind of fun - [Black Widow's] outfit is fantastic and very practical. When she gets in that awesome car and takes the Cape ... Initially, in the script, she was supposed to wear a little white tennis skirt with a blonde wig... The idea was quickly abandoned."
Finally, the actress had her say, and the heroine swapped the mini-skirt for a leather jacket and jeans. She explains this small change by her growing influence in the franchise and by the desire to be part of a "change of culture":
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Not bad at all
“You mainly work with male screenwriters. Things were starting to change. We had to be part of this change. The public is asking for this change, there is a cultural evolution that is moving things in a more progressive direction. is a whole process."
This isn't the first time the actress has spoken about her role as a hypersexualized figurehead in her early Marvel appearances. Captain America: the Winter Soldier is a real tipping point in the trajectory of Black Widow, who becomes a real heroine, much more than a stooge for the Avengers. Without ever openly criticizing the MCU (we don't sabotage the big ticket pump), she has already explained that her character has matured and gained in depth by adapting to her age and her life as a mom.
The new Marvel heroines: much more than sex symbols
Collider magazine also points out that his recurring appearances have also allowed him to participate more widely in the writing of his character - which is not a bad thing. Today, Black Widow is one of the main avengers, who clearly has nothing to envy to Steve Rogers or Tony Stark.
In France, the film has been available in theaters since July 7, 2021 - finally! If you want to find out a little more about the trajectory of the Marvel heroine, you can of course find our film review and our file on the evolution of Black Widow.
