Scarlett Johansson says 'Black Widow' is 'reflective' of the Me Too era
Black Widow is “reflective” of the Me Too movement and addresses the issue “head-on”, according to star Scarlett Johansson.
The 35-year-old MCU veteran told Empire Magazine it is “obvious” that the character of Natasha Romanoff is a feminist and that this played into her solo movie.
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Set after the events of Captain America: Civil War, the film follows Natasha as she delves into her own past, presumably involving the “red in her ledger” that has been mentioned in previous movies.
Johansson said director Cate Shortland was keen for the movie to address real issues.
“I think this film in particular is very much reflective of what’s going on in regards to the Time’s Up movement and the Me Too movement,” said Johansson.
She added: “It would be such a miss if we didn’t address that stuff, if this film didn’t take that head-on.
“I think, particularly for Cate, it was so important for her to make a movie about women who are helping other women, who lift other women up out of a very difficult situation.”
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As well as Johansson — who has played Natasha seven times in the MCU — Black Widow stars Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova and Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff, both of whom also trained as Black Widows.
Stranger Things star David Harbour portrays Red Guardian, who serves as father figure to Natasha and Yelena and is effectively a Russian equivalent to Captain America.
Black Widow will likely mark Johansson’s final appearance in the MCU, as Natasha was killed during the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Shortland has revealed that Pugh’s character will take on a bigger role in future and that this film serves as a passing of the torch.
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The movie marks the first installment of Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, opening up a new chapter after the huge spectacle of Endgame.
Black Widow is currently due to arrive in UK cinemas on 30 October.
