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Rumor: Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in Iron Man 2?!

by Alex Billington
February 13, 2009

Oh no, please say it's not true! According to Entertainment Weekly, Marvel has been talking with Scarlett Johansson about replacing Emily Blunt as Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow in the upcoming Iron Man 2. The original news about Blunt taking the role first hit in January, but then at the end of January we reported that Fox had forced her, due to a contract signed for The Devil Wears Prada, to give up Iron Man 2 to take on Gulliver's Travels instead. So if Blunt couldn't make her schedule work, who would they get instead? Presumably someone else just as talented, right? Nope, they're looking at Scarlett Johansson!

EW claims that, "Marvel will not confirm, but sources around Hollywood say Johansson has indeed met with the filmmakers and is interested." Here's the thing about Johansson - when she first starred in Lost in Translation, I thought she was fantastic. But then came In Good Company, the first of her flops. She wasn't bad in The Prestige, but she wasn't good either. And with The Spirit and now He's Just Not That Into You, I've come to hate her. She's only about the sex appeal, not about the performance. And it's annoying seeing her try to act in bad roles when all that anyone cares about it is how much cleavage we get to see.

What I'm saying is that I think Johansson just needs the right kind of role to succeed in and those don't come that often. She was actually good in Woody Allen's last few movies, but that's because I think only he can get that kind of performance out of her. For the most part though, I'm not fond of her acting anymore. So with that said, I really do not want to see Scarlett Johansson in Iron Man 2 at all. Emily Blunt, on the other hand, is both an incredible actress and beautiful and would've been perfect. I really hope this rumor falls through and Blunt gets the role or it's handed off to someone just as capable. Who else agrees?

Filed under Casting, Movie News, Rumors

From around the web:

J

I agree. She's boring.
lola0813

NONONOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Josh M

Here here!
Spider

oops! Whatever happened to those free floating Eliza Dushku as Black Widow, rumors???
http://www.hiddenchaos.com Matt Bacon

It's not her, it's the direction. The Spirit wasn't bad because of her, it was bad because of EVERYTHING. As for her new romantic comedy and her old one, what do you expect? They only have to be good enough for women to eat it up, which they did! Lost in Translation was well directed, and she was good in it. Favreau is a good director, so she'll do good.
Darunia

She's small, and voluptuous. Black Widow should be tall and lean. Sexy, thin, athletic woman. Johanson is the opposite.
http://firstshowing.net David Wilson

Emily Blunt was the perfect person for the role. At this point it would be better to get a talented unknown.
MissHarleyQ

Ugh... The Spirit pretty much killed her for me.
http://Movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Thank God for bringing this matter to light Alex. I really do not understand how she keeps getting hired when almost all of her movies have been a flop and her only semi-hits are ensemble pieces. While she is an alright actress, she is not that amazing.
Rai

Damn you again Hollywood!
jh

didnt see the spirit so i still like her
Aldonn

She was still hot in the spirit. I dunno what's wrong with you people. I've never had a problem with her. Sorry she's not always in good movies, but that's not her fault. Also @4, Eliza Dushku is kinda busy right now being awesome in DOllhouse. Just saw the premiere of that and it kicked ass. Joss Whedon is the Midas of Hollywood.
cyn

Aw man, i was so looking forward to seeing Emily in this role! She's a great chameleon with the roles ive seen her in. bummer! i dont hate scarlett, but im tired of seeing her in roles that don't help her much... and the news definitely brings down my expectations for IM2.
hope springs eternal

awesome! cant wait! maybe iron man will punch her!
Tyler

She may be gorgeous but she isn't Black Widow gorgeous.
Jeff

I think we are all sick of seeing ScarJo but the good thing is people are getting tired of having her shoved down their throats..Her movies have been mostly FLOPS with a capital F and her last film shes in is being carried by Anniston and Drew Barrymore and the other actresses..Its 81% women that went to see hes just not that into you and they all just loved Connelly and the girl that plyed GIGI. That said,please get somone else because this movie will flop with Scarlett in it. The black widow is tall and lean and sexy and fit,not short and dumpy.
Timothy

She's a fine actress. Maybe not fit for the role (I have no idea) but I think she could do it.
kiran

God I hope this isn't just another rumor. The moment I heard the widow may be in 2 I said milla should be their pick and I think she would be perfect.
http://blogger.xs4all.nl/vads Vitor

I don't agree, she's hotter than hot!
L

#5 I agree with you wholeheartedly. I don't think Jon Favreau would allow her to be horrible in his films. I do have faith.
Movieraider321

The role she played in The Spirit was supposed to ooze sex appeal not fantastic performance, many of you went into The Spirit expecting Sin City 2, or some other boring dribble like that. The comic is funny and quirky not completley serious. Now just because she hasnt been in a few bad movies doesn't mean she can't be good in others. It's really not about performance but about the character and their dialogue, the worlds shittiest actor could play the best bum if it was written for a bum. And the world's best actor could be the worst person to play a bum because it was written for a bum. Think on other sides of the spectrum, look past her performance and look into the core of either the character or her dialogue, there is where you will find the problem.
The Red Skull

OLGA KIRILENKO!
in yo face!

i will see anything with robert downey in it.dont care much about scar jo.
Kowalski

And about Rachel Nichols? Or Eva Green? Far better choices than Johansson or Blunt.
Dexter

Wow, It going to be a disaster. The more acting i see from Scarlet the less impressed i am. I used to be a hard core fan of her. Its sad.
The Hornet King

You people are crazy. 1. Scarlett Johansson is one of the greatest natural beauties in the world. Absolutely, hands down, one of the most attractive women in Hollywood. 2. She is a fine actress. I really don't see where everyone is getting the idea that she only makes "flops." When I look at her filmography, I see a group of very solid movies, some great movies, and a handful of garbage. But find me one actress who doesn't have a handful of garbage to their name. But she has fantastic performances in a number of very good films. The Man Who Wasn't There, Ghost World, Lost in Translation, The Island (a very underrated movie), The Prestige, Match Point, Vicki Christina Barcelona, The Nanny Diaries...For an actress who is 24 years old, thats a lot of good films. The other stuff on her list are romantic comedies, which, lets be honest, are not the target demographic for this web site. Women love them, fanboys don't. Scarlett Johansson is a super sexy actress who I always enjoy watching on screen. I would love to see her opposite Robert Downey Jr. in IM2.
Thomas

Okay, another option - how about Hilary Swank? Wasn't she supposed to be involved in Iron Man I at one point, btw?
Branden

I don't see Scarlett in the role. She is not a terrible actress. She is offered bad roles. I loved her in Match Point, VCB, Lost in Translation, Ghost World and The Man Who Wasn't There. I would love to see Emily as the Black Widow.
zach s

what the f are you talking about? scarlett johanson is a great actress!!!!! it would be amazing if she joined iron man 2 cast!!!
sumonesumtime

YOu are all super douchy!
sumonesumtime

Except for the ones that don't dog on Scarlet.
Blue Silver

With the Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke rumors, Marvel seemed to be going the right path, now it appears that they've taken several steps back. I sure hope they DO NOT pick Johansen! I did hear about Eliza Dushku too. I believe Erica Durance of "Smallville" would fit the role perfectly, as she would "Wonder Woman" also.
Nettle

Thank you Hornet King! I thought she was fantastic in The Island and she's a very solid actor. I think she could pull it off.
RandyG

#28, I agree she is a perfectly fine actress. She is a personal favorite of Woody Allen so she certainly has more going for her than most. She doesn't seem to fit this role, however. Eva Green could nail it, though.
http://www.pinnacledisplay.com Steve, trade show displays

OK... #1 She is hot. Super hot. Hotter than hot. #2 With Favreau in charge, she'll be fine (see Matt Bacon above, I agree). #3 See #1. ~ Steve, the trade show displays guy and Johansson fan.
Alfredo

#22's choice would've been MY first choice. Dunno why none of the suits have thought of her....
http://www.myspace.com/deadbirdinc Stuart Mellor

Have you not seen Vicki Christina Barcelona?????? Thats one of the strongest films in years! Right up there with In Bruge and Hunger as some of the best films recently! And i agree, The Island was great, as was Lost In Translation, Alex you have gone MENTAL! Watch Vicki Christina Barcelona!!!
http://rhptkfgs.blogspot.com ramez

No one saw A Love Song for Bobby Long? Damn that was her best movie. ScarJo isnt NEARLY as bad as you're making her out to be Alex.
Colin

I love how her work in Ghost World, The Man Who Wasn't There, and Match Point was left out, as if it never happened. Johannson's biggest problem, like her Spirit co-star Samuel L. Jackson, is that she works too much.
Movieraider321

37, Alex went mental many many posts ago, I dunno where I actually lost my faith in him, but it was somewhere. I come here for news now, not overly oppionated articles.
dan_the_man

why dont they cast an Russian or someone else instead of Scarlett Johansson i think the best people should play Black Widow are Eliza Dushku, Milla Jovovich and Olga Kurylenko no way Scarlett Johansson .
darrin

dude she was in hime alone 3, haha. but seriously i would rather emily blunt cause she pulls off great performances in all her movies
MonkeyMan

Don't know the character so don't really care who plays her.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#37 & #40 - I HAVE seen Vicky Cristina Barcelona, but that has NOTHING to do with Iron Man 2! Even so, her character was the WEAKEST part of that movie! Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, and especially Rebecca Hall were what made that such a great movie. Johansson was just the slutty girl that really dragged it down for me. I really don't like her anymore and her big boobs can't make up for her bad acting. I'll clearly state that VCB was very good, and it's the exception to Johansson's declining acting recently, but it doesn't make me like her all of a sudden! I still prefer Blunt over Johansson, without question!
JS

i would have to agree with Alex on this one, it would be a poor choice to cast Johansson, her acting career is going down hill as we speak. But for Emily Blunt i think its a perfect casting as The Black Widow.
max

Funny how people are defending Scarlett Johansson by saying "BUT SHES SO HOT THAT SHES A GOOD ACTRESS!"... That was the whole point of Alex's text in my opinion... I do love Scarlett in Lost in Translation, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Scoop. And i think its extremely pleasant to watch her play ANY STUPID CHARACTER, but she plays some of them REALLY bad. The Nanny Diaries, In Good Company, The Island, THe Other Boylean Girl (Havent seen The Spirit and the other movie yet); She couldnt act shit in those movie, even if the movie and the whole plot sucked ass, the acting was worse. Shes being offered the worst scripts ever, if she even does decide the movies shes doing for herself... Seems like she can be bought easily when looking at the movies shes been doing. She is a good actress when shes in her own "field"... A young confused girl, who trying find out something about life and discovers stuff along the way (or something). And now on the choice to cast her as the Black Widow-.- I dont really see her playing that part. Think there would be a lot better choices!
Ajax

Although ScarJo is a good actress, I can't picture her as Black Widow. She can't do to. She'll end up completely hamming it up with an over-the-top Russian accent. I do like her, but there a lot of better actresses for this part.
Annoyed but not surprised

The problem with Hollywood (among many) is the decision makers are too consumed with "brand" and not enough with the ultimate product. And they're not necessarily wrong, from a business perspective, for thinking that way. Scarlett is a beautiful and reasonably talented actress. But more than that, she's the brand of "Scarlett". She's never been in a big film in her career, but people know her from the tabloids and from endorsement contracts and from, quite frankly, her sheer beauty. And that's fine in certain types of film, but if/when she turns up as the Black Widow, you're not going to see that character, you're going to see Scarlett, the "Brand", as that character. That's very likely what Marvel wants. It's probably what Jon Favreau wants. But it's a shame. In a sea of talented and yet not yet "branded" actresses - Rachel McAdams, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz to name just a few - Scarlett is an uninspired but not surprising choice.
Ivan Arcaya

The name of the movie is Iron Man and the star is Robert Downy,Jr. I don't care who they get to play The Black Widow as long as she is beautiful, sexy and athletic. I will be concentrating on Iron Man and The Villain. I'm all about the action. As long as the fight scenes are exciting; I don't care about the dialogue. If I want dialogue and great acting; I will go see an art/Indie film. Besides it is just a rumor. Iron Man Rocks! Long live Marvel!
unknown

I have a crush on scarlett johansonn in her catsuit