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Scarlett Johansson confirms that she's not coming back as Black Widow

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Mar 11, 2025 6:07 PM ET

Scarlett Johansson is putting any rumors of her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to rest in her recent interview with InStyle. The actress portrayed Natasha Romanoff since Iron Man 2 in 2010, with the character heartbreakingly sacrificed herself in Avengers: Endgame to secure the Soul Stone and bring back everyone that they lost after the snap. Without her, they would not have been able to beat Thanos.

"Natasha is dead. She is dead. She's dead. Okay? They [the fans] 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 hand. We’re going to have to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment."

Avengers: Endgame was released in 2019, however, Black Widow got her long overdue solo film in 2021. The only other female character in the MCU to get her own movie is Brie Larson's Captain Marvel.

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According to InStyle, Johansson is "the second-highest grossing actor of all time, with more than $14 billion worldwide" and the highest-grossing female.

When speaking with Entertainment Weekly, she explained, "I think this character's strength really lies in her vulnerability and her acceptance of that. She has emotional intelligence that has allowed her to survive without any real superpowers. She's someone who is a problem-solver. She's a pragmatic person. I think a lot of those qualities are inherently female."

The Black Widow star/executive producer continued to discuss the need to have more female superheroes who are "inherently female," adding, "I hope that this film continues pushing that boundary, so that we can actually have more female superheroes who are inherently female, and aren't just Batman in heels or whatever."

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Johansson can next be seen in Jurassic World Rebirth alongside Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali, starting a new era in the iconic Jurassic franchise. The film will be released in theaters on July 2.

Black Widow is streaming on Disney+.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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