Following her directorial debut with “Eleanor the Great,” Scarlett Johansson might be ideally positioned to reunite with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not in front of the camera as Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff. Johansson played a significant role within the MCU during her tenure as Romanoff from 2010’s “Iron Man 2” to 2021’s “Black Widow.” However, since Romanoff’s demise, Johansson has firmly stated she won’t resume acting in these roles. Despite this, with her recent executive producer credit for “Thunderbolts” and the success of her first feature directorial project, Johansson could re-enter Marvel Studios as a film director for potential future projects.
Despite some past legal issues between Scarlett Johansson and Disney after the release of Black Widow, Marvel Studios maintains a strong bond with Johansson. Since 2021, Marvel has been collaborating on a project with Johansson that was already in progress before the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes. The nature of this project is yet unknown, whether it’s a movie or a TV series on Disney+, or which characters it might involve. However, Johansson’s recent directorial venture with Eleanor the Great hints that she may direct her upcoming MCU mystery project. Such projects would be fitting for Johansson, given her extensive experience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
7) Thunderbolts* Sequel
Although Johansson may argue her involvement in the scenes of Thunderbolts*, she was acknowledged as an executive producer on the 2025 crossover project. Director Jake Schreier resurrected several former villains and antiheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s past for the New Avengers within Thunderbolts*, many of which were linked to Black Widow. Given that, it seems plausible for Johansson to rejoin Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and potentially Olga Kurylenko should a sequel to Thunderbolts* be made, as the crossover essentially functioned as a continuation of the Black Widow storyline.
6) Blonde Phantom
There’s been talk circulating for quite some time that Louise Grant’s character, the Blonde Phantom, might be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Debuting in Marvel Comics as early as 1946’s All Select Comics #11, super-spy Grant was among the first female superheroes. During the day, she worked as a secretary for private detective Mark Mason, but under the cover of night, she fought crime as a vigilante. Given Scarlett Johansson’s affinity for strong women, she could be an excellent choice to direct a project centered around the Blonde Phantom. Moreover, this character seems like an ideal successor to Johansson’s Black Widow in the MCU.
5) Jessica Jones
Initially, Krysten Ritter debuted as Jessica Jones on her own Netflix series, which was part of the Defenders Saga. Although the Defenders Saga became official in Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by early 2024, it wasn’t clear if Ritter would continue as Jones. However, she has now been announced to reprise her role alongside Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock in “Daredevil: Born Again” season 2. This could pave the way for a new Jessica Jones story within the MCU. A potential collaboration with Scarlett Johansson could result in a compelling, realistic narrative for Jessica Jones, the superpowered private investigator.
4) Elektra
As a passionate fan, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the return of some beloved Defenders Saga characters, but so far, Élodie Yung’s portrayal of Elektra Natchios remains missing from the scene. There’s a growing clamor for Elektra to make a comeback, and it seems that Élodie herself has shown interest in reprising her role.
If I were to dream up the perfect director for a gripping, noir-inspired solo project centered around Elektra, Scarlett Johansson would be an outstanding choice. Her experience as Black Widow, another complex character with a rich backstory, would serve her well in guiding Élodia through Elektra’s intricate emotional landscape.
Elektra and Daredevil share an iconic bond, and it would be thrilling to witness the former member of the Hand, who is deeply connected to Daredevil in Marvel Comics, take center stage in the MCU. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a captivating Elektra comeback!
3) Hawkeye Season 2
There’s been a lot of talk but no official confirmation about a second season of the series “Hawkeye,” featuring Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld as skilled archers Clint Barton and Kate Bishop. If it does happen, it would be thrilling to see Barton reconnect with Johansson’s character (Romanoff) who was his friend for years before her death in “Avengers: Endgame.” This potential season might also shed light on the Budapest incident, one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most intriguing unsolved mysteries.
2) White Widow
From a movie enthusiast’s perspective, I firmly believe Scarlett Johansson could excel as the director of the Thunderbolts sequel. However, given her deep understanding and connection with the Black Widow character, it seems more fitting for her to spearhead a solo project centered around Florence Pugh’s character, Yelena Belova, who is set to become the new leader of the New Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As Yelena Belova eventually takes on the mantle of the White Widow in Marvel Comics, this evolution would be captivating for Pugh’s beloved character in the MCU. It would indeed be a treat to see Johansson and Pugh collaborate once more, given their shared history. With Johansson’s extensive experience portraying a Black Widow for over a decade, she is exceptionally qualified to guide a project that develops Belova into her new MCU heroine.
1) A-Force
In a different phrasing, we can say: Since Black Widow, portrayed by Johansson, was absent from the A-Force hint in Avengers: Endgame, she might be an excellent candidate to lead a genuine A-Force venture within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The concept of A-Force was debuted during Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars event and represents a powerful squad of female superheroes. Given Johansson’s status as the MCU’s first female hero, she could undoubtedly create a compelling and impactful A-Force project if Marvel decides to gather this exceptional team. This potential project could feature characters like She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Okoye, Echo, and others, making Johansson one of the significant directors in the MCU’s history.
Read More
- We Loved Both of These Classic Sci-Fi Films (But They’re Pretty Much the Same Movie)
- Masters Toronto 2025: Everything You Need to Know
- The Lowdown on Labubu: What to Know About the Viral Toy
- Valorant Champions 2025: Paris Set to Host Esports’ Premier Event Across Two Iconic Venues
- Mario Kart World Sold More Than 780,000 Physical Copies in Japan in First Three Days
- Street Fighter 6 Game-Key Card on Switch 2 is Considered to be a Digital Copy by Capcom
- ‘The budget card to beat right now’ — Radeon RX 9060 XT reviews are in, and it looks like a win for AMD
- Karate Kid: Legends Hits Important Global Box Office Milestone, Showing Promise Despite 59% RT Score
- There is no Forza Horizon 6 this year, but Phil Spencer did tease it for the Xbox 25th anniversary in 2026
- Microsoft Has Essentially Cancelled Development of its Own Xbox Handheld – Rumour
2025-06-22 06:40