Scarlett Johansson Confirms Black Widow's Death, Doubts Return

Scarlett Johansson, a seasoned veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has firmly stated that her iconic character, Black Widow, is "dead" and she shows little interest in reprising the role in the near future. During an interview with InStyle, Johansson discussed her future beyond the MCU, mentioning her upcoming project, "Jurassic World Rebirth," set to release this summer. Despite the significant impact Black Widow had on her career, Johansson seems ready to move on from the character.

"Natasha is dead. She is dead. *She's dead.* Okay?" Johansson emphasized, addressing fans' persistent calls for her return. She continued, "We’re going to *have* to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment." Black Widow's fate was sealed in 2019's "Avengers: Endgame" when she sacrificed herself to save Jeremy Renner’s character, Hawkeye, in a clear and definitive storyline. Despite this, fans have continued to speculate about her potential comeback.

"They just don't want to believe it," Johansson remarked. "They’re like, ‘But she could come back!’ Look, I think the balance of the entire universe is held in her hand. We’re going to *have* to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment." The idea of resurrecting deceased characters is not new in the MCU, especially with upcoming event movies like "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars," which are anticipated to be packed with cameos.

Rumors have swirled about other MCU stars potentially returning, such as Robert Downey Jr., who is set to portray Doctor Doom in a new live-action film, and Chris Evans, who was rumored to reprise his role as Captain America—a claim he later denied. Additionally, Hayley Atwell’s Agent Carter, despite having died twice in MCU films, is rumored to appear in "Avengers: Doomsday." With so many beloved characters possibly returning, it's understandable why fans continue to speculate, even with Johansson's clear stance on Black Widow's fate.

Fans will have to wait until May 1, 2026, for "Avengers: Doomsday" and May 7, 2027, for "Avengers: Secret Wars" to see which characters, dead or alive, will make an appearance. For more on the MCU, you can explore our comprehensive list of every upcoming movie and show Marvel has in the works. Additionally, don't miss out on the latest from Marvel, as the third episode of "Daredevil: Born Again" premieres tonight.