Scarlett Johansson, known for her iconic role as Black Widow, has made it clear she doesn’t plan to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe anytime soon. In fact, she recently requested that her executive producer credit be removed from Thunderbolts, a film she wasn’t involved in creatively. Johansson revealed this during a chat with David Harbour, who reprises his Red Guardian role from Black Widow, in Interview Magazine.
She hadn’t even seen the movie yet when the interview took place.
When Harbour jokingly asked if she hated the film, Johansson quickly shot down the idea, emphasizing her pride in the team behind the movie. Her request to remove the credit was simply because she had no direct involvement in the production. According to IMDb, Johansson is no longer listed as an executive producer on Thunderbolts, which debuted in theaters last month.
Despite stepping back from acting in the MCU, Johansson remains open to directing a Marvel project in the future. She spoke about the possibility of exploring themes like human connection and family on a grand scale, showing enthusiasm for storytelling within the vast Marvel universe.
Meanwhile, Marvel has stirred the pot by rebranding Thunderbolts as New Avengers soon after its release, even weaving the in-movie conflicts into real-world promotions. This film also sets the stage for Phase 6 of the MCU, leading into the highly anticipated Fantastic Four: First Steps scheduled for July.
However, fans and critics alike have expressed mixed feelings about the current direction of Marvel’s cinematic lineup. Some see the inclusion of less prominent characters and familiar faces with minimal involvement as a sign of creative stagnation. Others feel that the talent isn’t the problem, but rather how the studio manages and evolves the sprawling MCU.