Gwyneth Paltrow’s podcast, The Goop Podcast, recently had Scarlett Johansson as a guest. During the conversation, both actresses confirmed that they have completed their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
In the main MCU timeline, Johansson’s role as Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, has passed away.
Although there is a chance that she might make a comeback as the multiverse concept has been introduced in MCU, it’s important to note that she had a dispute with Disney, the parent company of Marvel Studios, regarding her payment. This conflict may have resulted in her souring the relationship with the company while leaving.
Although Pepper Potts managed to survive, her narrative arc may not continue as her spouse, Tony Stark portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., has passed away.
Paltrow agreed with Johansson’s statement that she may return to the project, stating that since she didn’t die, they can always ask her to come back.
“Oh, wow. So we’ll have a 64-year-old Pepper Potts? That’s awesome!” Gwyneth Paltrow exclaimed. Scarlett Johansson added, in jest, “Definitely! It’s bound to happen. You’ll never escape their grip. Get ready to rock that wig, girl!”
Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney in July 2021, claiming that the release of Black Widow on both Disney+ and in theatres breached her contract with the studio and cost her up to $50 million in bonuses. Before the pandemic, movies were usually released first in theatres and then later on streaming platforms. However, due to the pandemic, major studios like Disney and Warner Bros changed their strategy. The lawsuit was closely watched in Hollywood for its potential impact on media companies looking to grow their streaming services. According to the lawsuit, “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.” The dispute was resolved later that year, but the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
