Scarlett Johansson On Black Widow’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Role

During a recent interview, Avengers: Age of Ultron star Scarlett Johansson discussed Black Widow's role in Captain America: Civil War.

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The latest issue ofEntertainment Weekly is jam packed full of Captain America: Civil War coverage and the latest bit focuses on Black Widow’s role in the film. While speaking with EW, actress Scarlett Johansson discussed Romanov’s role in the film and how she sees Black Widow sees herself as a moderator between two main characters in the conflict.

“You know, I think she understands where everyone is coming from. And none of it really matters to her, you know? There’s a bigger problem at hand and she’s, I think, strangely, kind of the mediator. Which is not exactly how you would imagine her to be. But I think she really does see both sides of the coin and I think her strength is that she’s not personally involved.”

It seems that the Natasha’s understanding of both sides of the conflict will allow her to cause influence from a distance versus jumping right in the middle of things. Could this perhaps lead to the character switching sides at one point or will she stay somewhere in the middle?

“I think when you find her in Civil War, she’s looking to strategize her position, putting herself in a place where she is able to let the powers that be fight it out or whatever amongst themselves. She’s always a little bit on the perimeter so she can have a better perspective of what’s really going on.”

Scarlett Johansson also commented on the character’s evolution throughout the course of the MCU and the choices that she will have to make during the events of the conflict.

“I don’t think she’s ever aspired to become an Avenger. That’s not really a choice that she made. It’s kind of like the events in her life led her to that point and when we see her [in Civil War], she’s finally capable of making a choice for herself. Which is kind of a milestone in someone’s life when they’ve not really participated in the decisions that were made for them. She’s finally at a place where she’s going, “Okay, I actually kind of know what I want. And I think I kind of deserve it.””

At the end of Age Of Ultron, the character was seemingly co-leading the new team Avengers team assembled. Will we see this expanded upon before the conflict begins? Doesn’t sound that way according to Scarlett Johansson.

“Yeah, I don’t know if she’s leading this team but she’s certainly, she’s — I think Natasha’s a very strategic thinker and that’s her strongpoint. Her superpowers, if you want to call them that, are her experience, her ability to make usually the right decision in a quick moment, in a tight minute. And she’s not personally invested. I mean, that’s what she tells herself anyway. And so that keeps her head kind of level and clear.”

Finally, Scarlett Johansson commented on her status as one of the biggest female superheroes on the screen and how that has some with an increased level of scrutinization. She told EW that she is “happy that people scrutinize the Widow’s storylines and care about it and are invested” and would rather it be that way them having a “a kind of “meh” reaction”. She believes that everything that she “done with the Widow, to me makes sense. It’s in line with active decisions that I’ve made for the character. I’ve been able to develop this character very closely with Joss and [Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo]” and added that Black Widow “somehow ends up always on top, even if you’re not always in agreement with how she gets there”. 

Sounds good to me. While I know there’s been some backlash to certain decisions, I’m a fan of how they’ve fleshed out the character over the course of time and am looking forward to where they take her next. Let us know your thoughts on Johansson’s comments in the section below.

Source: EW

Shawn Madden

Shawn Madden

I write stuff. Sometimes.