Scarlett Johansson, a veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has definitively declared Black Widow "dead" and shown little interest in reprising the role. During an interview with InStyle, while promoting her upcoming role in Jurassic World: Dominion, Johansson addressed fan speculation about a potential Black Widow return. She stated emphatically, “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She's dead. Okay?”
Johansson acknowledges the enduring affection fans have for the character, but firmly believes it's time to accept Black Widow's sacrifice. "They just don't want to believe it," she added. "They’re like, ‘But she could come back!’ Look, I think the balance of the entire universe is held in her hand. We’re going to have to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment.” Black Widow's death, depicted in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, was a pivotal moment, with her sacrificing herself to save Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).
Despite this unambiguous on-screen demise, fan theories persist, fueled by the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. These films are anticipated to feature cameos, adding to the speculation. Rumors of other MCU characters returning, such as Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and the potentially debunked return of Chris Evans as Captain America, further fuel this speculation. Even Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter, despite having died twice in the MCU, is rumored for Doomsday.
While Johansson's statement seems definitive, the persistent speculation highlights the enduring impact of Black Widow and the fervent hopes of MCU fans. We'll have to wait until Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027) to see which characters, living or dead, ultimately appear. For more on the MCU, explore our list of upcoming projects and check out the latest episode of Daredevil: Born Again.
