Scarlett Johanssonis back in business with theMarvel Cinematic Universe, as the Black Widow star is attached toThunderbolts*. Johansson played Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, from 2010 to 2021. Natasha died in a teary sacrifice inAvengers: Endgame, being vital to the heroes defeating Thanos. Johansson’s latest MCU project was 2021’sBlack Widow, a prequel movie that finally honoredBlack Widow’s MCU timelinewith a solo entry, serving as what seemed to be the end of the partnership between the star and Marvel Studios.
An official press release from Disney has revealed thatScarlett Johansson is an executive producer of Marvel Studios’Thunderbolts*. This development comes after a previous confirmation that the actress was set to serve as a producer alongside Kevin Feige on an MCU project. Johansson was not fond of the Black Widow movie having been released in theaters and on Disney+’s Premier Access at the same time, which led to a lawsuit, but ultimately seems to not have impacted the star’s relationship with Marvel. Johansson’s connection to the MCU film makes sense due toThunderbolts*’s cast of characters. The first trailer for 2025’sThunderbolts*has been released by Marvel Studios.
What Scarlett Johansson Returning To The MCU as Thunderbolts' Producer Means
The Black Widow Star Is Back In Action
In 2021, at the 35th annual American Cinematheque Award (viaComicBook.com), which Scarlett Johansson received, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that the actress would continue involved with the MCU even if she did not appear as Natasha Romanoff. At the time, Feige revealed that he was working with Johansson on “another non-Black Widow-related top-secret Marvel Studios project with her as a producer.” Now, it seems like 2025’sThunderbolts*is the project in question, even though rumors started circling about a Johansson-produced MCU series being in development.
Marvel is trying to keep its biggest stars involved with the franchise as it attempts to course-correct after some mixed results in recent years.
Johansson’s return to the MCU is part of a growing trend. Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. had previously departed the franchise, recently returning as different characters, the Human Torch and Doctor Doom, respectively. WhileJohansson returns in a producer capacity, different from Downey and Evans, it shows that Marvel is trying to keep its biggest stars involved with the franchise as it attempts to course-correct after some mixed results in recent years. Johansson being an executive producer onThunderbolts*also makes a lot of sense, as the multiple characters from Black Widow play a role in the film.
Johansson Could Follow A Multiverse Saga Trend
At the moment, Johansson is only back in the MCU in a producer capacity, which could extend beyondThunderbolts*. However, based on how the shared universe brought back Evans and Downey Jr. to the MCU as different characters, the same could eventually happen with the Black Widow star now that she has restarted her partnership with Marvel Studios.Nothing points to Johansson having a secret role inThunderbolts*, but with the MCU’s Multiverse Saga having two major projects on the way in the form of the next batch of Avengers movies, Johansson could return to acting in the franchise soon.
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The Multiverse Saga’s biggest events will beAvengers: Doomsday, which stars Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, andAvengers: Secret Wars, which concludes the MCU’s Multiverse Saga with what should be an event of unprecedented scale. Johansson could return as a new character in either of the movies. In late 2023, reports claimedMarvel was considering the return of the original Avengers cast for a movie. With Downey as Doom, that could lead to the rest of the MCU’s Avengers playing a role in one or both of the upcoming MCU events not as their heroes, but as multiverse villains.
Our Take On Scarlett Johansson Returning To The MCU as Thunderbolts*’s Producer
The MCU Can Only Be Better With Johansson Involved
I believeThunderboltsis the perfect fit for Johansson’s first project in this new chapter for her and Marvel. The movie features Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster fromBlack Widow— a movie Johansson was the star of and also an executive producer — as members of the team. Johansson can take the lessons learned in the MCU, her deep knowledge of theBlack Widowcharacters inThunderbolts, and her ample experience in Hollywood to help the 2025 movie. I want to see the stars who made the MCU what it is continuing to help the franchise, Scarlett Johansson included.
Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova could take over as the MCU’s new Black Widow.
While I would have liked to see more of Johansson as Black Widow in a possible MCU return, I’m just as excited for this new phase of hers with the franchise. Johansson will not quit acting, but it seems likethis behind-the-scenes approach is something she is passionate aboutat this moment in her career. Johansson was a producer on this year’sFly Me to the Moon, which she starred in with Channing Tatum, is an executive producer on Marvel’sThunderbolts*, and makes her feature film directorial debut withEleanor the Great, which wrapped filming in April.
As Johansson continues to branch out, I’m excited that she is choosing to remain involved with the MCU in some form. The actress previously said that she was done with Natasha Romanoff. In 2023,Johansson was blunt about moving on from playing Black Widow, saying, “I’m done. Chapter is over. I did all that I had to do.” With that stance, I’m happy that we are getting any sort of connection betweenScarlett Johanssonand the MCU going forward, as her producer role inThunderbolts*keeps her in the franchise.
Thunderbolts*
Cast
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories in order to survive and achieve their goals.
