Black Widow (film)

Black Widow is a movie now in Production and part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe focusing on Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow before The Avengers.

Plot
At birth, Natasha Romanova (aka Black Widow) is given to the KGB, which grooms her to become it's ultimate operative. When the U.S.S.R. breaks up, the government tries to kill her as the action moves to present-day New York, where she is a freelance operative. The standalone film will find Natasha living in the United States 15 years after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Cast

 * Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
 * Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
 * David Harbour as Alexi Shostakov
 * Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff
 * O-T Fagbenle as a To-be-confirmed character
 * Ray Winstone as a To-be-confirmed character

Continuity and References to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

 * Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow appears.
 * Yelena Belova is introduced.

Production
Actress Scarlett Johansson mention that there's spin off of her character from Iron Man 2.

On February 12, 2014, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed that some developmental groundwork has been done on a possible movie featuring Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow.

"We start filming the next Avengers film at the end of March," Feige said in a February 2014 interview to Total Film. "[Black] Widow's part in that is very big. We learn more about her past and learn more about where she came from and how she became in that film. The notion of exploring that even further in her own film would be great, and we have some development work with that."

However, on March 17, 2014, Kevin Feige recanted his statements in an interview with "Examiner.com," citing that she has been involved in three movies already and another character (Ms. Marvel) might be more interesting.

In August 2014, British director Neil Marshall told Vanity Fair in an interview that he wants to direct the film.

While at the Fan Expo on August 31, 2014, Stan Lee revealed that the film may be moving forward.

In an interview with Collider, Johansson revealed that she and Feige are discussed a series of standalone Black Widow films for Marvel.

In January 2016, actor Clark Gregg stated that Marvel should make a Black Widow movie; meanwhile Joe and Anthony Russo wanted to direct the film.

On May 6, 2016, Feige announced to Deadline during a Q/A that they have confirmed a discussion about seeing a Black Widow movie.

On July 23, 2016, Feige has stated that they are committing to do the movie and The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron director Joss Whedon was open on directing the film.

In February 2017, Johansson told Total Film Magazine while talking about her movie Ghost in the Shell that "timing" is key to making Black Widow a reality.

In October 2017, Taika Waititi told i09 that he would like to direct the movie as a comedy.

On January 10, 2018, it was announced that the film was in early development, with Jac Schaeffer being hired to write the script.

In February 2018, Chris Evans stated that the movie is confirmed in a interview.

Trivia

 * David Hayter wrote a script, and was set to direct, in 2004, when the character's film rights were still at Artisan Entertainment/Lions Gate.
 * This will be Scarlett Johansson's eighth time playing Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff.
 * Nicole Perlman wrote a treatment for the movie movie around 2010/2011.
 * Scarlett Johansson appeared in a mock trailer for a Black Widow standalone film in a digital short aired during Saturday Night Live: Scarlett Johansson/Wiz Khalifa, presented as a cliche-filled romantic comedy where Black Widow is an intern at a fashion magazine and dating Ultron.
 * This movie will be released after MCU's Phase 3 is over as there is no Black Widow movie up to Phase 3.
 * This will be the second female led superhero film from Marvel Cinematic Universe after Captain Marvel.
 * In the Comics, Daredevil and Black Widow were a couple and Charlie Cox from Netflix's Daredevil (2015) wants a crossover movie.
 * This movie will be released after MCU's Phase 3 is over as there is no Black Widow movie up to Phase 3.
 * Previously, Hellboy director Neil Marshall had expressed interest in directing the film, but was not approached as Marvel is seeking a female director.
 * Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Alice Englert, Dar Zuzovsky and Florence Pugh were considered for a role with Watson being the front-runner. Ultimately, Pugh was cast.
 * André Holland was considered for the villain role but O-T Fagbenle was ultimately cast.