‘Black Widow’ Release Date: Marvel Taps New Writer For Scarlett Johansson Movie

The “Black Widow” movie project can now move forward after Marvel tapped a new writer to revise the script for the Scarlett Johansson starrer. Meanwhile, a fixed release date is still elusive.

Sources with information about the film disclosed recently that Marvel has enlisted Ned Benson — best known for “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby”— to rewrite the script for the first solo film centered on Johansson’s famous superheroine, as first reported by The Wrap.

Marvel previously hired Jac Schaeffer back in January 2018 to write the first draft for the project. At the same time, it was previously announced that Cate Shortland will helm the film after Johansson herself pushed for the former to get the gig.

Benson is expected to come up with the next draft. Meanwhile, the Australian director, who is known for the Nazi drama “Lore,” remains on board to direct the movie.

According to Collider, Marvel really chose to hire a female director for the standalone superheroine flick. The studio decided to give the directing job to Shortland after meeting with more than 70 candidates, including male filmmakers.

Johansson first appeared as Natasha Romanoff in the 2010 film “Iron Man.” The actress has since reprised the role for many other films including “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Captain America: Civil War.” The upcoming “Avengers: Endgame” will be her seventh outing as Black Widow.

It is said that the standalone movie for Johansson’s role could have been decided after a 2016 Fandago poll revealed that Avengers fans were mostly eager to see a solo film for the former assassin.

In addition, it also helps that Johansson has proven her box office draw outside of MCU. For one thing, her 2014 action movie “Lucy” raked in almost $500 million worldwide.

There are rumors that the film will be set 15 years before the first “Avengers” movie. If true, then fans will see Romanoff in a mid-2000 setting, possibly residing in America following the fall of the Soviet Union, as per First Post.

While there’s no official release date yet for the movie, a 2020 release seems likely considering that filming for the project will commence this year. But if things don’t go well as planned, the movie could debut sometime later.

Interestingly, this could just be the first installment of many “Black Widow” solo movies. Marvel chief Kevin Feige said three years ago that the studio and Disney are committed to establishing a possible franchise surrounding Johansson’s character and not just a lone film.