Moviefone Editorial

Tag: black widow

  • ‘Black Widow’ Movie Adds ‘Stranger Things’ Star David Harbour

    ‘Black Widow’ Movie Adds ‘Stranger Things’ Star David Harbour

    David Harbour
    Netflix

    The Marvel universe is getting turned Upside Down.

    “Stranger Things” star David Harbour is joining the cast of “Black Widow,” the standalone movie starring Scarlett Johansson as the Avengers heroine, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

    Harbour’s casting comes just a few weeks after Florence Pugh hopped on board the movie. Details of who either will be playing have not been revealed.

    Not much is known about the plot, other than that it will be a globe-trotting story featuring Natasha Romanoff, the spy who was trained by the KGB before becoming an agent of SHIELD and an Avenger.  

    Harbour, a veteran actor who gained leading man status on Netflix’s supernatural drama series “Stranger Things,”  is headlining his first film, a reboot of “Hellboy,” opening April 12. “Stranger Things” Season 3 premieres in July.

     

  • Florence Pugh May Join Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Black Widow’

    Florence Pugh May Join Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Black Widow’

    Florence Pugh in Fighting With My Family
    Universal Pictures

    The “Black Widow” standalone film is finally happening, but Scarlett Johansson won’t, of course, be totally alone. Casting is underway, and a new face is reportedly poised to join the MCU.

    “Fighting With My Family” star Florence Pugh is in negotiations for a second lead role, according to Variety’s sources. The publication reports that she’s been one of the front-runners since last fall. Producers are said to have met with multiple actresses, and then given her the edge after the response to her latest film.

    In “Fighting With My Family,” Pugh plays real-life pro wrestler Saraya Knight (a.k.a. Paige). The movie opened Feb. 22 after first premiering at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in January. Her character fights, of course, so Pugh may be especially well-prepared now to join a superhero flick.

    The “Black Widow” movie is making progress after years of fans calling for it. Screenwriter Jac Schaeffer was reported to have joined the project in January 2018, and then news of director Cate Shortland’s hiring came in July. Johansson is back on board to star as her heroic character, Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a. Black Widow), a role she has been playing since 2010’s “Iron Man 2.”

    Marvel has not yet commented on Pugh’s potential involvement. If she does indeed reach a deal, the project will add to her growing body of work. She recently starred in Netflix’s “Malevolent” and “Outlaw King” and will be seen in “Midsommar” and “Little Women,” both due out this year.

    [via: Variety]

  • 10 Female Superheroes Who Deserve a Movie After ‘Captain Marvel’

    10 Female Superheroes Who Deserve a Movie After ‘Captain Marvel’

  • No, the Black Widow Movie Won’t Be Rated R

    No, the Black Widow Movie Won’t Be Rated R

    Walt Disney Pictures

    The rumor that the upcoming “Black Widow” solo film was going to get an R-rating? Totally unfounded, says Marvel’s Kevin Feige.

    Talking to ComicBook.com, the Marvel Studio President shot down that particular rumor for good. “Yes. Correct,” he told the site when asked if the R-rating was just so much Internet hot air.

    “It never was going to be,” Feige said. “Somebody writes, ‘I hear it’s R-rated!’ And then everybody writes it up.”

    At this point, all we know about the film is that Scarlett Johansson will be reprising the title character, of course. And that Cate Shortland (“Berlin Syndrome”) will be directing from a script by Jac Schaeffer, who’s also writing at least an episode of the Disney+ “The Vision and Scarlet Witch” series.

    The Black Widow movie does not yet have a release date, but is rumored to be out sometime next year.

    Other Marvel movies we’re expecting:  a “Black Panther” sequel and a second “Doctor Strange” movie. As for the third “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie, that’s off for the books for now.

    [Via ComicBook.com]

  • Scarlett Johansson to Make $15 Million For Black Widow Movie

    Scarlett Johansson to Make $15 Million For Black Widow Movie

    Marvel

    The Black Widow is going to see green — and a lot of it.

    Scarlett Johansson has finally landed a $15 million salary for an upcoming standalone movie centered on her Marvel character, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    That is the same amount that Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth got for playing Captain America and Thor in this year’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” as well as for their most recent standalone movies “Captain America: Civil War” and “Thor: Ragnarok.”

    Marvel, however, told THR in a statement that it “disputes the accuracy of these numbers, and as a matter of policy, we never publicly disclose salaries or deal terms.”

    If the salary figure is correct, it’s a huge amount for a character’s first standalone movie. Robert Downey Jr. only made $500,000 for the first “Iron Man,” and Chadwick Boseman reportedly received $2 million for “Black Panther.” Brie Larson is making $5 million for the upcoming “Captain Marvel,” but also signed a seven-movie deal.

    Johansson has appeared in six Marvel Cinematic Universe movies: “Iron Man 2,” “Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” and “Infinity War.” She will also return in “Avengers 4.”

    The Black Widow movie will be directed by Cate Shortland and is rumored to be a prequel set before the events of “Avengers.” It currently has no release date.

  • The ‘Black Widow’ Movie Now Has a Director: Report

    Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    The “to-do” list for the standalone “Black Widow” movie starring Scarlett Johansson just got a little bit shorter.

    Marvel has reportedly found its director for much-anticipated project. Australian director Cate Shortland has reached a deal with the studio, according to THR. Deadline reported on June 20 that she was one of the top contenders that emerged from a very large.

    Shortland hasn’t done any projects as high-profile as an MCU film yet, but she’s been making a name for herself. Her most recent film, 2017 “Berlin Syndrome,” starred Teresa Palmer and was nominated for best film by the Australian Film Critics Association. Shortland also received a nomination for best director.

    The writer and director apparently has a fan in Johansson. The actress threw her support behind Shortland, THR reports. Johansson is said to have liked the work her new director did on 2012’s “Lore.”

    The “Black Widow” movie has been talked about for years now, but Marvel seems to really be making it a priority now. There still hasn’t been a release date announced, but at least the studio has locked down a director. We’re getting closer.

    [via: THR]

  • Marvel Narrows Search for ‘Black Widow’ Movie Director: Report

    It’s looking more and more like a standalone “Black Widow” movie starring Scarlett Johansson is actually happening.

    News came in early May that Marvel had met with dozens of directors, and now there are reports that the studio has narrowed its search down to three top contenders. The filmmakers left in contention are Cate Shortland, Amma Asante, and Maggie Betts, Deadline reports. The publication says they emerged from a pack of 49.

    The directors are all female, which is notable considering that all previous MCU films have been directed by men. Marvel does have Anna Boden directing 2019’s upcoming “Captain Marvel” alongside Ryan Fleck, but it looks like a female “Black Widow” director could be the first woman to helm an MCU flick solo. The project comes in the wake of the DCEU’s very successful “Wonder Woman,” which was directed by Patty Jenkins.

    Each of the women reportedly in contention has solid experience. Shortland’s most recent film, 2017’s “Berlin Syndrome,” earned her a nomination for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television award for best direction, and Betts won a Sundance Jury Award for her direction of the 2017 film “Novitiate.” Meanwhile, Asante has multiple films to her name, including 2018’s “Where Hands Touch.”

    It remains to be seen who will end up in the director’s chair, but we’re glad to see the “Black Widow” movie gaining momentum.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Scarlett Johansson on Black Widow Movie Rumors: ‘It Could Be Something Really Special’

    Marvel’s most frustrating “will they, won’t they?” situation has nothing to do with romance and everything to do with a film fans have been calling for the studio to make for years: a standalone Black Widow movie.

    With “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Monday. That gave host DeGeneres the perfect opportunity to ask Johansson if her character is finally getting her own movie. Although the answer has been looking more and more like yes, Johansson gave fans hope without confirming anything.

    The actress noted that she thinks it would have to be “groundbreaking and incredibly badass” but that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige could handle it. “If anybody … could make that happen,” it would be him, she told DeGeneres.

    “I think it could be something really special,” Johansson said of the potential film. “There’s definitely a lot of room there. The character has a tortured past, to say the least.”

    The actress went on to describe some of what makes Black Widow so interesting, nothing that the character has “had to make a lot of difficult decisions.” The way Johansson sees it, Black Widow “probably has some trauma” and has “got issues” — all of which she feels would make for an interesting standalone movie.

    Watch below, starting around 2:07 for Johansson’s take on a standalone movie.

    For now, we’ll look forward to seeing Johansson in “Avengers: Infinity War,” which opens April 27.

  • Marvel’s ‘Black Widow’ Movie Looks More Likely After Landing Writer

    Forget the Avengers for now: Black Widow might finally be getting her own movie, and there’s no assembling required.

    Marvel is reportedly taking steps toward making the standalone project starring Scarlett Johansson happen. Jac Schaeffer has been hired to write the script, Variety reports. Although the publication’s sources say it is still very early in the development process, the move at least brings us closer to an actual film.

    Johansson has been playing Black Widow since 2010’s “Iron Man 2,” and since then, she has appeared in six of the MCU’s films, including the upcoming “Avengers: Infinity War.” Fans have been eager to see a Black Widow-centric addition to the series, but it hasn’t come to pass (or theaters) so far. It’s not for lack of interest from Johansson; she has been clear about being willing to star in the film. The actress did caution Variety in 2016, though, that it would have to happen while she “still actually wanted to wear a skin-tight catsuit.”

    We’re more optimistic now that Schaeffer has boarded the project. The writer penned the upcoming comedy film “Nasty Women,” a “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” remake starring Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, and Alex Sharp. Although Marvel has yet to comment, we hope her hiring means the studio is determined to give Black Widow her own adventure.

    We’ll see the superhero in “Avengers: Infinity War” when it opens May 4.

  • ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Director Wants to Make a ‘Funny’ Black Widow Movie

    The upcoming Marvel threequel “Thor: Ragnarok” has been touted as one of the funniest superhero flicks in recent memory, thanks in large part to the comedic sensibilities of director Taika Waititi. And while the comic studio no doubt wants to keep Waititi in the Marvel family, the director has a surprising choice for his next dream superhero project.

    In an interview with io9, the helmer said he was confident he “could probably bring something pretty unique to any of the franchises,” but had one character in particular in mind.

    “I’d love to see Black Widow” headline her own film, Waititi told the site, adding that he wanted to make the Scarlett Johansson character “something crazy and a bit funnier than we expect it to be.”

    Acknowledging that the hero’s backstory is “very sullen and very dark and her history is very dark,” the director said he wanted to delve deeper beyond that known persona.

    “What’s the funny version of that?” the director mused of a Black Widow flick concept. “What’s the more entertaining version of that?”

    Based on the early buzz surrounding “Ragnarok,” and particularly the joy that Waititi brings to the film, we’d definitely be eager to see what he could do with a Natasha Romanoff standalone. Keep your fingers crossed that Marvel finally listens to fans and just makes a damn Black Widow movie already.

    [via: io9]