The 24th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the start of Phase Four, will be Marvel Studios’ Black Widow, which will hit the big screen on May 1, 2020.
Following the incredible star-studded Hall H reveal, we had the opportunity to talk to the announced cast of the film. Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow has Scarlett Johannson, reprising her role of Natasha Romanoff, and will welcome MCU newcomers David Harbour as Alexei / The Red Guardian, Florence Pugh as Yelena, O-T Fagbenle as Mason, and Rachel Weisz as Melina.
Set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Producer/President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige revealed his excitement of Phase Four, and the film that kicks it off.
“Here we are unveiling a number of projects over the next two years as Phase Four,” stated Feige. “It feels good to finally have it out there and have people know.”
“[Black Widow]’s a character that everybody thinks they know everything about,” added Feige. “And she’s been in so many of our movies, and you know bits of it, but in no way do you know the whole story.
At the helm of her own stand-alone film, Johansson expressed, “It’s pretty surreal; honestly, it feels so raw right now,” noting they just flew in from London the previous night, and flying back that night to continue production.
How did the rest of the cast react to finally have their film announced to Hall H and the entire world? Pugh shared, “Everybody keeps saying, ‘What does it mean?’ I haven’t quite put my finger on it because the last hour has honestly been the biggest and most amazing blur. I was in Hall H, and I couldn’t even see the back of the room. It was so many people so eager and so touched to see all their heroes on stage. That, for me, was equally an amazing thing to be a part of.”
“It’s kind of unbelievable; I keep on wondering like what kind of parallel universe I’m in, and where the normal me is supposed to be,” said Fagbenle. “This is really my life.”
“I feel like I’m walking into mythology, folklore, and incredible storytelling,” remarked Weisz.
“Actually being backstage today with so many actors I’ve worked with in the past; they really hire very talented people.”
“The scripts are so good; the characters are so good; the director Cate Shortland is so good,” exclaimed Harbour. “The movies are all so unique in and of themselves. Black Widow is in a way is a departure. It feels like an espionage movie; it’s got all these elements to it.”
“This film is really grounded,” added Johansson. “It’s a little dirty; it’s a little salty. It’s bringing some realness to the Marvel universe.”
What can we expect from these new characters?
“Melina, my character, has been cycled to the Red Room 5x through the Widow program,” shared Weisz.
Meanwhile, “Mason is a fixer,” said Fagbenle. “Generally, he can help people get the things that are hard to get. Hide things and find things. He’s got a complex relationship with Natasha.”
Harbour gave us some contextual comics history to his character. “In the Cold War, the arms race was happening,” stated Harbour. “America developed this thing called Captain America, so the Russians responded in retaliation with something called the Red Guardian.”
“The last month of shooting has been the coolest and the most surreal experience,” revealed Pugh. “And to play a woman like her, and opposite a woman like Natasha, it’s just so cool to see two women as equals and I’m excited.
Get ready for Marvel Studios’ Black Widow, in theaters May 1, 2020.
