Scarlett Johansson Sends a Stark Message to Marvel Fans: ‘Natasha is Dead, Let Her Rest!’

Marvel fans have long been speculating about the return of beloved characters from the Avengers franchise, especially following Robert Downey Jr.’s announcement that he would reprise his role as Doctor Doom in the MCU. Amid this wave of rumors, one star is making it abundantly clear that her character’s story is truly over.

In a candid interview with InStyle, Scarlett Johansson addressed the ongoing fan theories surrounding her character, Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, and her fate after Avengers: Endgame. Despite the persistent hope among fans that Natasha could somehow return to the MCU, Johansson made it clear: “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay?”

Johansson expressed frustration with the refusal of some fans to accept Natasha’s sacrifice in Endgame, where the character gave her life to obtain the Soul Stone and save the universe. “They just don’t want to believe it,” Johansson said of the fans who continue to insist that Natasha might come back. “They’re like, ‘But she could come back!’ Look, I think the balance of the entire universe is held in her hand. We’re going to have to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment.”

While Endgame marked the end of Natasha’s arc, Johansson’s portrayal of the character in both the Avengers films and her standalone Black Widow movie helped solidify her status as a key figure in the MCU. But now, Johansson is ready to close the chapter on her time in the Marvel Universe. She’s eager to leave this part of her life behind, especially considering the challenges of living in the public eye.

As someone who values her privacy, Johansson has been vocal about the drawbacks of fame. “The thing about being a public figure is that the idea of being recognizable and celebrated feels fun, but then you can never stuff it back in the bottle,” she explained. “The reality of it is, there’s a massive loss to that, you know? So I think preserving that for as long as possible until it’s someone’s choice, that’s the choice I make as far as my kids go.”

In addition to stepping away from the spotlight as an actress, Johansson is embarking on a new creative path: directing. Her upcoming directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, features nonagenarian actress June Squibb and is inspired by indie films from the 1980s to the early 2000s, such as Living Out Loud, Crossing Delancey, and Moonstruck. The film allows Johansson to step out of the limelight and take on a new challenge.

Johansson reflected on the satisfaction of learning new skills through the process of directing. “When I would get home from work,” she shared, “and I would say to Colin [Jost], ‘You know, it’s so exciting to be 40 and learn a new thing. Now I know how to make a movie like this. I know how to finish it. The process of sound mixing and coloring and editing’ — I didn’t know that before. And now I know how to do it.”

With Eleanor the Great on the horizon, Scarlett Johansson is embracing a new chapter in her career. While Natasha Romanoff may no longer be part of the MCU, Johansson’s journey is far from over, and fans will be watching closely as she takes on new creative endeavors both behind and in front of the camera.