In a candid interview with InStyle in March 2025, Scarlett Johansson reaffirmed the conclusion of her character, Natasha Romanoff, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), notably with her character’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Johansson emphatically stated, “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay?” Despite fans’ speculation about her possible return, Johansson emphasized that Natasha’s narrative reached its heroic culmination with her universe-saving act, advising fans to “let it go.”
Johansson’s portrayal of Natasha Romanoff has indelibly impacted the MCU, especially highlighted by her pivotal role in Avengers: Endgame. The 2021 film Black Widow, set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, delved into Natasha’s past and introduced Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow.
Scarlett Johansson says Black Widow is really dead but Marvel fans can't accept that.
“Natasha is dead. She is dead. She's dead. Okay? They just don't want to believe it. They’re like, ‘But she could come back!’ Look, I think the balance of the entire universe is held in her… pic.twitter.com/jfHnSBJi6W
— Variety (@Variety) March 11, 2025While currently executive producing the Thunderbolts project, which is related to her own film, Johansson has clearly stated her decision not to revisit her role as Natasha.
Despite persistent rumors about her potential involvement in future Avengers films such as Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Johansson has expressed interest in exploring more of Black Widow’s history, particularly her relationship with Hawkeye. However, she maintains that her time portraying Natasha Romanoff has concluded.
Scarlett Johansson cast some pretty significant doubt on a return as the MCU's Black Widow, saying “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She's dead. Okay?” https://t.co/W5s3nusEMR https://t.co/TasffkBQmM pic.twitter.com/m8Hh0NEki3
— IGN (@IGN) March 12, 2025In the same interview, Johansson also discussed setting boundaries with fans, revealing her preference not to photograph outside official events. She wanted to maintain her privacy and not be recognized as a public figure during her time. This stance may disappoint some but underscores her need to distinguish between her personal and professional lives.
