Scarlett Johansson‘s portrayal of Black Widow significantly impacted the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in many of its most successful films throughout the past decade. Her role concluded with the 2021 solo film “Black Widow,” yet her character’s storyline within the MCU timeline was wrapped up in “Avengers: Endgame.” Now, Johansson is set to join the “Jurassic World” series with the upcoming movie “Rebirth.” In a recent interview with David Harbour, one of her MCU colleagues for Interview Magazine, she discussed some of the difficulties that came with being part of Marvel’s superhero film industry.
Although Harbor doesn’t have as much history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Johansson, he is well-versed in being associated with a well-liked series and the expectations that come with it. This is because Harbor has been a prominent character in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” since its debut.
Indeed, for the last couple of years, my life has been quite similar to what you described. However, the project I’m currently working on for HBO seems more down-to-earth. It revolves around an ordinary middle-aged man dealing with typical midlife issues, rather than a character battling monsters or saving the world. Occasionally, I switch between these two worlds, but I’ve spent a significant amount of time lately on sets that are superhero-themed, big budget, and filled with green screens.
It was then when Johansson inquired if he felt relieved having wrapped up Stranger Things, to which Harbour responded: “When I first started, I adored it so much. Friends of mine who had worked on TV shows for a long time said, ‘By season three or four, you’ll be exhausted.’ And I was like, Never! I love these guys too much,” Harbour shared. “But eventually, you wonder how much more story there is. You end up playing the same tune often, and at some point, you feel like saying, ‘I want to try something new, something people haven’t seen me do before.’ So yes, after a decade, it feels like, ‘Alright.’
Time For Something New
Johansson commented, “It’s been quite a while since we last worked together. For a span, you were involved with Marvel too. When you have such extensive commitments, it can become harder to seize the everyday special moments.” Harbour inquired if she had been engaged in this for ten years, and Johansson disclosed some of her experiences on the journey. She shared that at times, the role can feel less like a well-rounded character and more like a device used to advance the plot.
Absolutely. Some of the Marvel films I’ve been part of offered me more depth than others. For instance, my collaboration with Chris Evans in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was incredibly dynamic. However, in certain other movies, the cast was so vast and the narrative so complex that it often felt like I was merely a tool to advance the plot. When you’re committed to five and a half months of such work, it can feel restrictive at times. It’s as if I’m saying goodbye to simple pleasures like painting my nails or getting a haircut. These might seem trivial, but when your identity is deeply rooted in this job for an extended period, and the work isn’t engaging enough, it can sometimes make you feel a bit confined.
The Drawbacks of Big Franchises
Harbour realized this quite well, particularly as the series progressed. “Just like the show,” he explained, “there are seasons where you might think, ‘Let’s try something new.’ However, once you’re connected to this group of characters and their narrative, a part of you becomes attached.” Using an analogy, Harbour added, “I may not paint my nails, but I can relate to the feeling of not being able to cut my hair or shave my mustache.
Johansson stated, “Since you’re deeply involved and always ready to reprise your character when needed, how do you spend your days off while working?
Last year, Harbour found himself fortunate as he filmed both the “Thunderbolts” movie and season 5 of “Stranger Things” almost consecutively. In his words, “Each project depends on its unique demands. I was lucky last year because I shot ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Thunderbolts’ together, which kept me quite busy. I get restless when I’m alone for too long. So, having this busy schedule gave me a sense of… well, I guess I could say I become a bit like a grandpa tending to my garden down here in Atlanta. I started growing tomatoes, strawberries, and even some odd things like blueberries.
Read More
2025-06-11 02:09