Black Widow: Is Scarlett Johansson solo movie happening after Avengers Endgame?

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame.

The events of Avengers: Endgame will have been hard-hitting for any fan of Natasha Romanoff, who made her debut back in Iron Man 2.

This is your final warning to dodge massive spoilers – stop reading now if you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame.

The all-star Marvel epic saw Natasha sacrificing her own life in order for Hawkeye to gain access to the Soul Stone in Vormir.

It still hasn’t been officially announced by Marvel, though widespread reports suggest it starts filming later this year.

And yes, Scarlett Johansson is believed to be starring – except now it seems more certain than ever that rumours about it being a prequel have been accurate all along.

Speaking to USA Today this week, Johansson said coyly: “I don’t even think I can say a single thing! And that makes my job easier and harder at the same time.”

Surely if she was out the picture altogether, she could just say so. But the signs indicate she’s involved in at least some capacity.

Cast members have, unsurprisingly, also not been confirmed – but Rachel Weisz, David Harbour, Florence Pugh and Emma Watson have all been linked to roles.

OT Fagbenle, who appeared in The Handmaid’s Tale, was also recently said to be in talks to sign up for a role.

The Hashtag Show reported that the film will be set in the early 2000s, before Natasha even appeared in Iron Man 2. So whether or not Johansson would need to be digitally de-aged, as the likes of Samuel L Jackson have been for their in-the-past Marvel adventures, remains to be seen.

It was claimed that over 65 directors met with Marvel bosses in their hunt for a director, with Cate Shortland believed to have been the winner.

News on Marvel’s post-Endgame slate – which is also believed to include The Eternals and Shang-Chi – is set to be revealed after Spider-Man: Far From Home is released later this summer.

Avengers: Endgame is out now.