Marvel Studios has ignited anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday, confirming that Chris Evans is set for a highly awaited Chris Evans Avengers Doomsday return as Steve Rogers, yet long-time fans are left questioning the absence of Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow from the cinematic event. The studio‘s teasers highlighted the return of Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Hemsworth, but the original female Avenger is a conspicuous omission that has sparked debate among audiences and inside the fandom.
Black Widow’s Place in Marvel’s Cinematic Legacy
When Scarlett Johansson entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Natasha Romanoff during Iron Man 2, she signaled the beginning of an interconnected superhero team. Her portrayal of Black Widow became an integral part of eight MCU films, culminating in her standalone feature. Johansson’s persistent presence and impact on the franchise built emotional resonance, particularly as the original Avengers line-up expanded and evolved.
Despite Black Widow’s death in Avengers: Endgame, fans point to the multiversal setup of Avengers: Doomsday, which introduces characters from alternate universes such as Fox’s X-Men and the fresh Fantastic Four. This open narrative raises the possibility of alternate versions of established heroes—yet, the marketing cycle has contained no indication that Johansson or another incarnation of Black Widow will take part. Amid reveal after reveal of characters like Thor and Doctor Doom—whose origins are rumored to be from a different universe—audiences wonder aloud why Black Widow cannot receive a similar multiverse treatment.
Excluding Johansson robs the event of unique narrative potential. The dynamic between Earth-616’s heroes, particularly a reunion with Yelena Belova, could evoke a strong emotional response from fans. Alternatively, an adversarial return for Romanoff, as seen with complex “evil” variants like Doctor Doom, could introduce dramatic new stakes.
With Marvel’s creative framework enabling nearly limitless possibilities, the exclusion of Black Widow appears less rooted in canonical storytelling and more influenced by factors outside scriptwriting.
Unresolved Off-Screen Issues between Scarlett Johansson and Disney
Scarlett Johansson’s last outing as Natasha was overshadowed by real-world turmoil rather than the triumphs associated with her role. The standalone Black Widow film, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, debuted simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ via Premier Access, directly impacting its box office potential.
Johansson sued Disney, alleging that the hybrid release violated her contract by reducing potential box office bonuses tied to theatrical performance. The legal dispute was settled for an undisclosed sum, but industry observers noted a clear shift in Johansson’s relationship with the studio—despite her name being attached to Thunderbolts*, she later clarified she played no role in its production.
This unresolved tension raises the possibility that Johansson may be intentionally distancing herself from Disney projects, or the studio, with lingering hesitations, is avoiding public collaboration for now. While the exact reason behind her absence from Avengers: Doomsday isn’t public, the legal and personal complications that followed Black Widow’s release appear to have influenced current events.
Speculation Surrounds a Possible Surprise Appearance
Marvel Studios is known for safeguarding its surprises, withholding major character announcements until key moments. This strategic secrecy means definitive answers about the cast are hard to come by ahead of time. It remains plausible that Scarlett Johansson could secretly reprise her role as Black Widow, or perhaps introduce a multiversal variant, to send shockwaves through the fanbase.
The pattern in recent MCU crossovers suggests that many important characters—such as Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, and members of the Guardians of the Galaxy—have not been formally announced as returning for Doomsday, but may instead be held for the climactic arcs in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Given the scale and emotional impact of Natasha Romanoff’s sacrifice in Endgame, omitting her entirely from Marvel’s last multiversal saga would be a substantial loss to the continuity and drama that have defined the MCU to date. Whether through surprise reveals or future projects, fans continue to hope for Johansson’s return in some capacity.
The Confirmed and Rumored Cast So Far
The announced cast of Avengers: Doomsday builds on a foundation of familiar faces and new additions, signaling a broadening of the MCU’s narrative reach. Chris Hemsworth returns once again as Thor, anchoring the original trio alongside Evans and Downey Jr. Vanessa Kirby enters as Sue Storm, also known as Invisible Woman. Joseph Quinn steps into the role of Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach has been cast as Ben Grimm, better known as The Thing. These confirmations hint at a significant Fantastic Four presence within the upcoming multiversal storyline.
Still, with a list this notable, the lack of Johansson’s Romanoff is even more pronounced. As anticipation builds for Avengers: Doomsday and the saga’s next chapter in Secret Wars, the lingering question is not just if Chris Evans and his fellow Avengers will unite once again, but whether Marvel Studios will seize the opportunity to restore Black Widow to her place in the MCU’s on-screen legacy.
Audiences and industry watchers alike await further announcements, hoping for a plot twist that honors the character’s enduring relevance and brings Scarlett Johansson back for one final moment in the spotlight.
