“No Multiverse Miracle” – Scarlett Johansson on Why Black Widow Will Stay Dead in the MCU

After years of speculation and fan hopes, Scarlett Johansson has firmly closed the chapter on her iconic role as Natasha Romanoff, better known as Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a candid interview with InStyle published on March 11, 2025, Johansson made it crystal clear: she’s not coming back.

“Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay?” Johansson said, addressing the persistent calls from fans for her return. “We’re going to have to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment.” Her words mark a definitive end for a character who first appeared in Iron Man 2 (2010) and grew into one of the MCU’s most beloved heroes.

The roots of this finality trace back to Avengers: Endgame (2019), where Natasha sacrificed herself to obtain the Soul Stone and help defeat Thanos. Despite the MCU’s penchant for multiverse plots and time-travel twists that have revived other characters, Johansson believes Natasha’s death should remain untouched — a narrative decision carrying deep emotional weight.

“They just don’t want to believe it,” Johansson added with a smile, acknowledging fans’ reluctance. “They’re like, ‘But she could come back!’ Look, I think the balance of the entire universe is held in her hand.”

Beyond narrative respect, Johansson’s decision also reflects her evolving career trajectory. Although she remains connected to the MCU — serving as a producer on the upcoming Thunderbolts movie, set for release on May 2, 2025 — she is shifting her focus behind the camera. Johansson is currently directing her first feature film, Eleanor the Great, starring June Squibb, signaling a major transition from acting to producing and directing.

Her stance in 2025 contrasts sharply with earlier, more ambiguous comments. Back in 2023, during an appearance on Today, Johansson had teased that a return could happen “by some miracle.” But now, after years of reflection — and perhaps influenced by her satisfaction with Black Widow (2021) and her legal battle with Disney over its streaming release — she seems at peace with letting the character rest.

Johansson’s firm decision carries broader implications for the MCU. In a universe where death is often a revolving door, her insistence on preserving Black Widow’s sacrifice reinforces the gravity of such moments. It also paves the way for Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, who steps into the Black Widow mantle in Thunderbolts, ensuring the legacy lives on without undermining Natasha’s heroic end.

For fans who have held onto hope, it’s a bittersweet closure. But as Johansson herself said, it’s time: “Let her have her hero moment.”

Would you also like me to suggest a sidebar like “Timeline: Scarlett Johansson’s Journey as Black Widow” to give readers a quick overview of her MCU legacy? It could complement the article nicely!