Johansson: Black Widow's MCU Return Doubtful

Scarlett Johansson, a veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has definitively stated that Black Widow is dead and shows no interest in reprising the role. During an interview with InStyle, while promoting her upcoming role in Jurassic World Dominion, Johansson addressed persistent fan speculation about Natasha Romanoff's return. She emphatically declared, “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She's dead. Okay?”

Johansson acknowledges the character's significance in her career, but maintains her stance against a return. Black Widow's death, depicted in 2019's Avengers: Endgame where she sacrificed herself to save Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), was unambiguous. Despite this, fan theories about her potential comeback persist. Johansson comments on this, saying, “They just don't want to believe it...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.”

Fan speculation regarding resurrected characters in the MCU is long-standing, fueled by upcoming films like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. These films are anticipated not only as the next chapter for the MCU but also as potential showcases for returning characters. While Robert Downey Jr.'s return as Doctor Doom is confirmed, rumors surrounding Chris Evans's potential return as Captain America (later denied by Evans himself) and Hayley Atwell's rumored appearance in Doomsday as Agent Carter (despite her character's death in previous films) continue to circulate.

Given the numerous rumors of returning characters, the persistent speculation regarding Black Widow's return is understandable. However, Johansson's statement leaves little room for doubt. Fans will have to wait until Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027) to see which characters, living or dead, ultimately appear.

For more MCU updates, explore our comprehensive list of upcoming Marvel movies and shows. Also, don't miss the third episode of Daredevil: Born Again, premiering tonight.