Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow Could Get Solo Film: Marvel Film Chief

Hollywood has made major bucks on its comic book adaptations, but the few efforts they've made to headline a woman hero have been abysmal failures: Halle Berry's "Catwoman" barely scratched the public's consciousness, while Jennifer Garner's Elektra was without spark. The good news, though, is that Marvel may be willing to give a lady superhero another solo shot.

Scarlett Johansson, who stars as Black Widow, first appeared on film in the black leather in "Iron Man 2," and now, alongside up with Chris Evans' Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, Mark Ruffalo's The Hulk, Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye and Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, she'll help form The Avengers in the upcoming big screen epic due out next year. If that goes well, it could mean an entire film dedicated to the Soviet-born villain-turned-hero.

Speaking to Playlist, Marvel Film's co-head Kevin Feige said that they've spoken to Johannson about her own starring vehicle.

“There’s no definitive plans, but we have started talking and talking with Scarlett about what a Widow movie could be,” he said.

Feige also said that the studio was contemplating a feature for Renner's Hawkeye; both Black Widow and Hawkeye are part of the S.H.I.E.L.D. crime fighting group, which plays a major part in a number of Marvel films and could justify its own movie, too.

So, will it happen?

"Sometimes the answer is—when looking at a certain run of issues— ‘no way’ and sometimes the answer is ‘maybe, let’s continue to explore it’ and certainly with Hawkeye and Black Widow those are two that we’re exploring," Feige said.

Perhaps, though, what he really should say is that it all depends on the commercial success of Marvel's next films." Both "Captain America" and "Thor" hit this summer -- "Thor" reaches theaters on Friday -- and help set up "Avengers." Thus far, "Thor" has received unbelievable reviews -- 93% on Rotten Tomatoes -- boding well for the future of Marvel films.

For more, click over to Indiewire.

Comments

[liberalgirl31]

10:04 PM on 06/13/2011

I hate it when Hollywood always brings up Catwoman and Electra as an excuse to not make superhero movies with female leads. These films failed because they are BAD, not because they have female leads. There have been many bad superhero movies with male leads (Jonah Hex, Batman and Robin, and Superman 4), yet no one in Hollywood will say there won't be any more comic book movies with male leads.

[Michael Samra]

07:08 PM on 05/11/2011

I'm anxious to see if this chick can carry a movie where she is the lead star with some no names.We saw what happened with the Nanny Diaries.

[alexmalka]

12:49 PM on 05/06/2011

All The way Scarlett. I'm so down with her. She's an amazing actress. She always plays a different role. Obviously she is always sexy that wont chage tho lol. You can see how sexy she is in the new Mango Fashion Commercial here http://chabaneldistrict.com/blog/scarlett-johansson-mangos-2011-campaign

[13champlain]

12:55 PM on 05/05/2011

daddy like

[jetle25]

05:05 PM on 05/04/2011

I predict this going down the road of Electra, Ghost Rider, Wolverine Origins, and the Hulk Movie with Lou Ferigno...

[popart]

04:17 PM on 05/04/2011

comic books as movies now there is a concept.....who are movies made for these days ...adults who still have the tastes and interests of 12 year olds. I remember when i was 12 going to see movies made for grownups then coming home and looking at my stash of comics...i dont recall having comics around after i became a teen and discovered the joy of reading books. movies these days all seem to be made for adolescents.....books are just about the only "grown up" entertainment around.

[BebeLush]

03:19 PM on 05/04/2011

Her super power being . . . pouting her lips!

[Hooshang Danesh]

10:59 AM on 05/04/2011

archetypes--
more female archetypes-

[panasonic52]

10:47 AM on 05/04/2011

I don't know much about the characters outside of the movies so I was somewhat unimpressed with the Black Widow in Iron Man 2. I get that she didn't get much airtime, but I was expecting more...the character barely did anything

[Khoi Nguyen]

10:33 AM on 05/04/2011

she's hot!

[Sumocat]

10:14 AM on 05/04/2011

Black Widow is a sexy spy with no superpowers, more like Tomb Raider and James Bond than Thor and Iron Man. If they make it as a spy thriller and not a "superhero" movie, it has a shot.

[StarDagger]

06:06 AM on 05/04/2011

*ANY* excuse to put her in tight fitting clothes is a winner in my book.

The fact that she can act only makes it more of a home run!

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[sergal stew]

03:03 AM on 05/04/2011

S.J. is stolen biological material, taken against will and formed to clones line 200 pieces total. Sign of dangerous criminal activity. Original Scarlett Galabekian future pediatrician doctor, pediatrician nurse license she obtained in 2008

[ReelBusy]

02:48 AM on 05/04/2011

Kevin likes to keep talent on a leash so he teases their franchise possibility.
Ask Jon Favreau.

[fishnetdiver]

02:03 AM on 05/04/2011

They should look at doing an 'anthology' film (ala 'Creepshow' or 'Heavy Metal' or more recently, DC's animated 'Return of Black Adam') where you have several short films that tie-in together.
You could have reporter Ben Urich as the focal point doing a feature on the Avengers and then have flashback films featuring Black Widow, Hawkeye, Giant Man, Wasp, etc.
Each of these are really good characters but I really can't picture a full length film on any of them.

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

03:29 AM on 05/04/2011

The Avengers film is coming and after that comes out Ant-man and The Wasp films are coming.

[fishnetdiver]

03:44 AM on 05/04/2011

can't WAIT for the Avengers flick! (and we've got Joss Whedon doing it! yay!) but I just can't see Antman or Wasp carrying a full movie. It would be nice to see an 'Origins' mix-up post Avengers and have a 20-30 minute mini-film of Pym building Ultron to set-up a villain for the sequel and a short film on the criminal life of Hawkeye before he joined the team as well as a couple of 'intro' films with people like Mockingbird, Ms Marvel, Quicksilver, etc as, again, set-up for the next film.

[Kenan Cross]

08:56 AM on 05/04/2011

This is actually a really good idea for some of these second/third tier characters.