Everyone wants to see a female-led Marvel Studios movie at this point. Despite the fact that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige isn’t ready to fully commit to the idea, the demand is at an all-time high. Though some fans would like to see Captain Marvel make a jump to the big screen (us included!), many are still clamoring for a solo Black Widow film, especially given how much adoration there is for the character following Iron Man 2, The Avengers, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Now, the golden child of Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr., is putting his support behind the idea of a Black Widow adventure, as well as spin-offs for the rest of The Avengers. Speaking with USA Today‘s Entertain This, Downey spoke about the evolving nature of the female characters in the MCU but also said he thinks an established character should be the first female led film.
“Doesn’t Scarlett deserve a break?” Downey replied with a laugh when asked about a solo Black Widow film. “Look, I think that the interesting thing particularly after ‘Guardians’ with Zoe (Saldana), (or) even from the first Iron Man where Pepper was kind of this really – to me the Iron Man franchise would never have taken off without (Gwyneth) Paltrow. There’s something about her that grounded the story. She’s not your typical lady in a superhero movie, and then by Iron Man 3 she’s swallowing serums and putting on suits and kicking (butt) and all that stuff.
“It would be kind of more appropriate for a character that already was like a Black Widow (to lead a movie). It just seems like whatever Scarlett does people want to go see it…The funny thing is honestly at this point everyone deserves a franchise. I think Jeremy Renner is — when folks see the Avengers: Age of Ultron he’s just a rockstar, a badass. And Ruffalo is pumped. He does great (work). I’d like to hear them talk even more seriously about a Hulk franchise, because that’s been one of the toughest ones to get right. But I’m sure that my parent company is feeling expansive and and bold after the summer they’ve had.”
Marvel Studios currently has seven untitled films set for release through 2019, and surely when Iron Man himself thinks there should be a Black Widow film, the powers that be will listen.
Scarlett Johansson can next be seen as Black Widow in Avengers: Age of Ultron, where she will also be joined by a new female character, Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch.
