A Little Update on the Black Widow Solo Movie

Jac Schaeffer, the writer who has been hired to work on a script for Black Widow, is hoping to meet up with Scarlett Johansson to discuss the film next month. Johansson has been playing Black Widow since 2010’s Iron Man 2. That means she’s been inhabiting the role for eight years, a longevity that will give Johansson a deep understanding of the character.


Marvel has long discussed the possibility of a Black Widow solo movie. Unfortunately, as the years passed fans became convinced it would never happen. Until two days ago, when fans learned Marvel had hired Schaeffer to work on a script. It seems the eagerly anticipated Black Widow film may well become a reality after all.


Variety’s Justin Kroll has shared an intriguing update on Twitter concerning the project, which indicates Marvel and Schaeffer are moving full steam ahead on Black Widow.


https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/951943787588108288



It makes perfect sense that Schaeffer would want to touch base with Johansson early on in the scripting process. While Johansson is best known for her acting work, she also has a little experience as a writer and director. In 2009, Johansson wrote and directed a short called These Vagabond Shoes. She’ll no doubt be delighted to be involved in discussions at so early a stage.


There’s been real fan demand for a Black Widow movie since the character was first introduced. During the press tour for Captain America: Civil War, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige happily discussed the possibility. He agreed that a Black Widow film “at some point” would work, but cautioned that the film would be four or five years away. Marvel’s focus at the time, he maintained, was on the build-up to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4.


Not long after, Feige put it even more strongly. Again, he stressed that Marvel’s focus was on the end of Phase 3, but he admitted that there were discussions going beyond that. After hearing a list of character names, he did say Marvel was most “committing” to doing a Black Widow movie.


Viewed in the light of these comments, it shouldn’t really have been a surprise to fans when Marvel hired a writer for the film. Feige had hinted that Black Widow would release in 2020 or 2021. Marvel is beginning to focus on the scripts for films due for release in those years; James Gunn, for example, is currently working on the script for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Although this is only a minor update, it’s enough to tell fans that work on Black Widow is continuing apace. It seems Marvel really is committed to this movie after all.