Fanboys Anonymous

Welcome, fanboys, to another slice of Marvel movie development goodness filled with all the fun facts, intrigue, and Dan Ashley-brand silliness you could possibly want. So, only last night was I scrolling through Tumblr for something to catch my interest (or was I tumbling, hmmm?) when I came across this beautiful little/huge argument about why Black Widow should/should not have her own movie. Naturally, I joined in. Then this morning, I read something else. What's that, Dan? Developments on the possibility of an actual Black Widow movie? Something like that, yes!

"All this alien invasion business…I could murder a SodaStream!"

Despite ex-Russian killer spy lady Natasha Romanoff having appeared in the majority of Marvel Studios' superhero movies since Iron Man, this particular set of developments has only been brought to light since the production of Captain America: The Winter Soldier began. Black Widow has had plenty of opportunities to shine, but fans are still waiting for her to take a big bite out of the Marvel cinematic universe for all it has to offer. It seems that Marvel has been listening.

You see, in The Avengers, she had her moments, but how could her skills as a spy compare to the presence and brute strength of the mighty Thor or the tortured genius and epic rage-quitting tantrums of Dr. Banner/Hulk? Well, we kind of accepted that The Avengers was not her time to shine, and with Joss Whedon's flair for confidently taking his sweet-ass time getting a job done right, we knew that it would only be a matter of time before Black Widow would indeed bite.

We'd have thought that time would be during the events of The Winter Soldier, because that is one sweet couple right there…

Next: Gunsmoke by Dolce & Gabbana

Then again, we haven't even seen the movie yet; and then Cap himself, Mr. Chris Evans, goes and publicly says something like, "Black Widow's whole arc in The Winter Soldier is coming to terms with her history—that she's been a spy, and that spies aren't necessarily trustworthy." Oooh, Cap, you tease!

Well Marvel Studios' production boss, Kevin Feige, went on to say more about when Johansson will really get the opportunity to define her character, and it turns out that our flame-haired Avenger is gradually building towards a big part in Avengers: Age of Ultron. This is what Feige had to say:  

We start filming the next Avengers film at the end of March. Widow's part in that is very big. We learn more about her past and more about where she came from and how she became in that film.

Then, throwing the whole damn loaf out there as opposed to just feeding us pond dwellers a few crumbs at a time, Feige said relating to a Black Widow movie:

The notion of exploring that even further in her own film would be great, and we have some development work with that…

Relating to The Winter Soldier also, while on the subject, Feige pointed out that they wanted to change the dynamic of Marvel's cinematic universe with that one film. As I've pointed out before, The Winter Soldier's goal seems to be exchanging some of the past campiness and simplicity of the superhero genre for a darker, more political sort of thriller, which would allow greater space for dramatic growth and character building. Think about how Thor 2 also ended. It's becoming like a sort of Empire Strikes Back phase for Marvel. That makes me wonder what drastic end Age of Ultron will come to.

However, Black Widow isn't Obi Wan (Fury), or Luke Skywalker (Cap). She definitely isn't Solo (Thor), let alone the Wookie (Hulk), and she most certainly is no Leia (short straw, sorry Stark). So where does that leave her? Black Widow could, in truth, have more longevity than any of the other existing Avengers. How?

"Coulson, quick question, do penises ever have elbows?"

One thing that is certain of all current Avengers, they have a stronger bond than that one main-event movie might suggest. Their individual dynamics make each of them a linchpin for the whole group. If one were to leave, it wouldn't destroy the Avengers (maybe more so than in-fighting); however, the overall dynamic would be irreplaceable. When you separate them, though, which characters are bound to intrigue you the most?

"We start filming the next Avengers film at the end of March," said Feige in the latest issue of Total Film mag'. "[Black] Widow's part in that is very big. We learn more about her past and learn more about where she came from and how she became in that film. The notion of exploring that even further in her own film would be great, and we have some development work with that."
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MarvelFreshman/news/?a=94458#usEzOB6ZhbMdS8rT.99

"We start filming the next Avengers film at the end of March," said Feige in the latest issue of Total Film mag'. "[Black] Widow's part in that is very big. We learn more about her past and learn more about where she came from and how she became in that film. The notion of exploring that even further in her own film would be great, and we have some development work with that."
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MarvelFreshman/news/?a=94458#usEzOB6ZhbMdS8rT.9

From what we know (from movies and comic books) Black Widow has more guilt and anger to hide than Hawkeye, and even Banner. As a relative sidekick to either Fury or Cap, she endangers herself more without having a shield to protect her, or superpowers to boost her, and she gets a lot more actual work done. Without her, S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably implode and Steve Rogers would be training up to work at McDonald's. More significantly, as the show's leading lady—and a highly determined one at that—she has yet to break emotionally, or prove just how cold-blooded she really can be, or both.

So what would be the pros of a solo outing for Natasha? For a start, you might want to catch up with Nathan Edmondson's latest comic book take on the character. Black Widow is enjoying some mighty fine success lately, and she deserves it. When she's not following the orders of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Captain America, she stands alone very well.

She's one of few Marvel characters proving that you don't need a healing factor or the ability to shoot fire out of your butt hole to stay on top. In fact, Widow's story is best protrayed as a conflict between light and dark; one where redemption may not be attainable, but where to die trying is sadly the next best thing. Superheroes always get to win in the end and they rarely give up hope, because a guy with superpowers who gives up is a total gimp. Human characters prone to darkness and suffering, though, are capable of greater glory. Put that in your solo movie, if you're really going to make one. An espionage thriller in a world of superheroes and supervillains may be the way forward in a few years' time. The lead of that movie deserves to be a woman and a familiar one at that.

What are the cons of a Black Widow movie after Age of Ultron (or maybe even Avengers 3)? It seems that a lot of Marvel fans want to see other female characters of the Marvel Universe get a chance, while Widow is already set up for life with all her eggs in one basket. I can relate, but Marvel and Disney have plenty room for both. If she does get a solo movie, that's not going to immediately stop there being a Valkyrie, Spider-Girl, or Silver Sable movie, for instance. Some characters are better off in a team effort, and maybe even Black Widow might make that happen, leading to a team-up with Misty Knight in a Heroes for Hire movie!

Yet, mentioning that we have to see her relationship develop with Bucky Barnes (to the point where they were an inseparable duo after Marvel's Fear Itself), if we don't get to see that—and the fact that Winter Soldier was a huge step in her journey towards redemption—the character could have been a huge waste of time altogether. This leads me to the question: will Black Widow also appear in a Winter Soldier movie?

Questions, questions, questions! Sound off, fanboys, and tell me if you'd want to see a standalone Black Widow movie. I personally think Johansson deserves the opportunity for her loyalty over the years. I also think they owe it to Black Widow herself. Comment below and thanks for reading.