To mark the occasion, we’re taking a moment to reflect on her journey of embracing the superhero genre, which began with her watching Iron Man for the very first time.
Despite being one of Hollywood’s most famous superheroes, Scarlett Johansson wasn’t always a fan of the genre. She shared in a 2019 interview that her interest in superhero movies only sparked after watching Iron Man in 2008. Scarlett portrayed the character of Natasha Romanoff in multiple Marvel films including Iron Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. However, it was Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of Iron Man that drew her towards joining the Marvel family.
“I absolutely adored it. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Although I wasn’t particularly a fan of the superhero genre, it felt like a groundbreaking production,” the 35-year-old expressed. “I was eager to collaborate with Marvel as it appeared to be a thrilling place to work,” she stated in an interview with Vanity Fair last year. As early as 2010 when she joined the cast of Iron Man 2, she said, “I was a tremendous admirer of the first film and was thoroughly excited to be a part of the second installment. My inner geek was truly elated about being involved in Iron Man. To prepare for the role, I extensively researched the comic books and brought along my own concepts on how to expand the character. I believe she embodies determination and ambition.”
Emily Blunt turned down the chance to play the role that eventually went to Scarlett, but this did not bother her. Scarlett feels that being offered a role after being initially rejected is a great achievement and makes her appreciate the opportunity even more. In fact, she claims that she has built her career on such occurrences. Her solo Marvel film, Black Widow was originally scheduled for release in 2020, but it was postponed due to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. The film features other notable actors such as Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Rachel Weisz. In addition to her professional success, Scarlett is also experiencing new beginnings in her personal life.
