The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly evolving and keeping fans on the edge of their seats with exciting developments. In recent news, Scarlett Johansson has announced that she is “done” playing Black Widow, a character she has portrayed for over a decade. However, there may be a glimmer of hope for Gwyneth Paltrow fans, as rumors swirl that she may return to the MCU. These updates have left fans curious about the future of beloved characters and the direction of the franchise. Here’s what we know so far.
Scarlett Johansson, best known for playing Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), recently stated that she is “done” with the franchise. Although Johansson’s character got a prequel movie, the actress has no interest in being a part of the universe again, and there are no plans for her to return. However, Gwyneth Paltrow, who played Pepper Potts in the MCU, is not quite ready to say goodbye to her character. In a recent episode of her podcast, Paltrow discussed the potential future of Pepper Potts, and her remarks suggest that she might be interested in reprising her role.
According to Variety, Johansson was a guest on Paltrow’s The Goop Podcast, where the two actresses talked about their time in the MCU and the potential future of their characters. While Johansson is ready to leave the MCU behind her, Paltrow is not entirely sure. Paltrow acknowledges that she did not die in the events of Avengers: Endgame and suggests that Marvel Studios could always ask her to return. When Johansson asks Paltrow if she is done with the MCU, Paltrow says that she thinks so, but adds, “I mean, I didn’t die, so they can always ask me.” Johansson then jokingly predicts that Paltrow will return as a 64-year-old Pepper Potts, saying, “I can see it. They’re never gonna let you go. Break out that wig, baby.”
Obviously, Johansson’s comments about being done with the MCU come after her recent lawsuit against Disney. Johansson sued Disney over the simultaneous release of Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. She claimed that this release strategy violated her contract and cost her millions of dollars in potential earnings. Disney responded by saying that Johansson’s lawsuit had no merit and accused her of showing “callous disregard” for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, Johansson’s agent called out Disney CEO Bob Chapek, accusing him of “shamelessly and falsely” blaming Johansson for the release strategy.
Despite all the controversy surrounding Johansson’s lawsuit, it seems that her decision to leave the MCU has more to do with the fact that she feels her story is complete. Johansson remarks that playing a character for over a decade is a “unique experience,” and that her chapter with Black Widow is over. With the multiverse shenanigans that are currently happening in the MCU, it’s not entirely out of the question that some version of Black Widow could pop up again. However, it seems that Johansson is not interested in being a part of that story anymore.
Paltrow, on the other hand, seems to have more of an open mind about her future in the MCU. While she doesn’t explicitly say that she wants to return as Pepper Potts, her comments suggest that she might be interested if the opportunity arose. Paltrow notes that the Iron Man cast was “so psyched [Johansson] was there” during the filming of Iron Man 2, and that she was “so happy to have another woman around.” This suggests that Paltrow enjoyed working with Johansson, and that she values the representation of women in the MCU.
In any case, it will be interesting to see what happens with Pepper Potts in the future. The events of Avengers: Endgame left her as the CEO of Stark Industries, and it’s possible that she could play a role in the rebuilding of the Avengers. There have been rumors that Paltrow could appear in the upcoming Disney+ series Armor Wars, which focuses on War Machine (Don Cheadle) and the consequences of Tony Stark’s technology falling into the wrong hands. It’s also possible that Paltrow could make a cameo in another MCU project, such as the upcoming film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Overall, it seems that Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow have differing opinions on their future in the MCU. While Johansson is ready to leave Black Widow behind her, Paltrow might be open to returning as Pepper Potts. It remains to be seen what will happen with these characters in the future, but fans of the MCU will undoubtedly be eager to find out.
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to evolve, we say goodbye to Scarlett Johansson’s iconic portrayal of Black Widow, but also welcome the possibility of Gwyneth Paltrow’s return to the franchise. Though it’s always bittersweet to bid farewell to a beloved character, we look forward to seeing what new stories and heroes the MCU has in store for us. Thank you, Scarlett, for bringing the fierce and determined Natasha Romanoff to life, and here’s to the future of the MCU.
