Though she didn’t make it out of Avengers: Endgame alive, it’s learned that Scarlett Johansson is still officially involved with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Whether that means she will actually appear again in the MCU remains to be seen. It has been claimed she will be playing a different Marvel character than Black Widow.
What is Scarlett Johansson’s role with Marvel?
Thanks to the release of the Thunderbolts trailer, it’s learned that Scarlett Johansson is actually serving an executive role at Marvel Studios.
Variety in their report released the synopsis which states Scarlett Johansson is onboard Thunderbolts as an executive producer. If I have to guess, I am guessing her Black Widow contract with Marvel has her tied to the character as an executive producer. Florence Pugh continues as Yelena from the Black Widow movie who either might be the new Black Widow or another form of the character, so there could be the connection.
Based on Kurt Busiek’s comic series of the same name, “Thunderbolts*” is directed by Jake Schreier, with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez and Scarlett Johansson serve as executive producers. The screenplay is written by Eric Pearson (“Black Widow,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Transformers One,” “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”), “Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin and co-showrunner of “The Bear” Joanna Calo.
Could Scarlett Johansson play a different character than Black Widow in the MCU?
Regarding playing a different character, why not? Robert Downey Jr. is playing Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars movies.
Rumors have offered Scarlett Johansson will return to the MCU possibly as The Blonde Phantom, as it is also said Johansson is executive producing the project, thought to be a Disney+ series.
Non-Black Widow-related top-secret Marvel Studios project
Back in 2021, Kevin Feige did confirm Scarlett Johansson would be sticking around the MCU, which again per above could be The Blond Phantom.
“We are already working with Scarlett on another non-Black Widow-related top-secret Marvel Studios project with her as a producer,” Feige said at the time. “Scarlett is one of the most talented, versatile and beloved actors of our time. It has truly been a pleasure to work with someone of her caliber. From those epic training sessions preparing for the hallway fight in Iron Man 2, to the around the world press tour in Avengers: Endgame to partnering with you as a producer on Black Widow, working with you Scarlett has truly been one of the most memorable and rewarding collaborations of my career.”
While we wait to see what happens with Johansson in the MCU, she’s going to be starring in the new Jurassic World movie along with Mahershala Ali who hopefully plays Blade in the MCU.
Thunderbolts* gets released on May 2, 2025.