After an interview with Robert Downey Jr., Entertainment Weekly sits down with Scarlett Johansson to talk about her role in Captain America: Civil War.
In the interview Johansson goes on to discuss about Black Widow’s role in the film, future of the Black Widow, and more!!
When asked where her character is and what state she is in after Age of Ultron, she replied: “My gosh, this is like a therapy session! When we last saw her I think the stakes were astronomical.
And she basically had to make this choice between [duty] and what she probably deserves. I think up until this point, she has put the hours in and is ready for…”
They quickly asked what is Black Widow ready for, she replied: “You know, I don’t think she’s ever aspired to become an Avenger.
That’s not really a choice that she made. It’s kind of like the events in her life led her to that point and when we see her [in Civil War], she’s finally capable of making a choice for herself.
Which is kind of a milestone in someone’s life when they’ve not really participated in the decisions that were made for them.
She’s finally at a place where she’s going, ‘Okay, I actually kind of know what I want. And I think I kind of deserve it.'”
“Unfortunately the events that took place … she has this kind of greater calling and this huge pull towards doing what’s right for the greater good.
And she chooses that, and it’s a really heroic thing that she does, I think,” she added.
We saw Black Widow leading the new Avengers with Captain America in Age of Ultron, we might not see that happening in Civil War.
“Yeah, I don’t know if she’s leading this team but she’s certainly, she’s — I think Natasha’s a very strategic thinker and that’s her strongpoint. Her superpowers, if you want to call them that, are her experience, her ability to make usually the right decision in a quick moment, in a tight minute.
And she’s not personally invested. I mean, that’s what she tells herself anyway. And so that keeps her head kind of level and clear.”
Johansson goes on to talk about Natasha’s position in the film, where she finds herself between her friends Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.
“I think when you find her in Civil War, she’s looking to strategize her position, putting herself in a place where she is able to let the powers that be fight it out or whatever amongst themselves.
She’s always a little bit on the perimeter so she can have a better perspective of what’s really going on.”
EW had the opportunity to witness a scene and they ask her if she is angry at Captain America for his decisions and actions. “You know, I think she understands where everyone is coming from.
And none of it really matters to her, you know? There’s a bigger problem at hand and she’s, I think, strangely, kind of the mediator.
Which is not exactly how you would imagine her to be. But I think she really does see both sides of the coin and I think her strength is that she’s not personally involved,” she replied.
Here’s the rest of the interview:
“How did Bruce Banner going away at the end of the last movie leave her feeling, after she reached out to him and he turned her away — then ran away?
I imagine that there are a couple of ways you could respond to that. Maybe you want to call it abandonment or whatever it is, exactly. Vulnerability, rejection. I think that you can turn inward and be very hurt and bitter and that would have been an easier choice. But she understands that Banner did what he had to do. Certainly she’s not going to be the person to chastise someone who’s not ready to open up. I don’t think she’s taking it personally.
Is she kind of like, “Hey, your loss?”
I don’t think even it’s that. I think she’s just, it’s not the right time. It’s one of those things where you think of the person with a lot of fondness. You keep that in a warm place in your heart for them. It would have been very easy for us to take that and turn it into bitterness in this film and have her be reactive. But that would be out of character, I think.
Will that storyline continue?
I don’t know. There is little room for romance in Civil War; I think there is a lot going on that doesn’t really involve big heart-to-hearts. I mean it’s certainly in there and there’s references to it. But this is not the opportunity for us to explore the Widow’s deep, personal backstory.
What do you hope for the character as the Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps expanding?
My hope for the Widow is, we’ve certainly grown from film to film. We’re building these different layers of her character. And seeing her, I think we’ve kind of grown together. She’s very capable — and I think she’s emotionally capable. I think you’ll see her coming into her own in this story.
Do you get much input into what she does and what she says?
Of course. And what her motivation is for making the decisions that she does. I had a lot of conversations with Joss about what she sees in Banner. Or why is she, at this point in her life, able to be open in this way? We both followed that storyline with a lot of confidence that it was the right arc for my character up until that point.
What are your feelings about the scrutiny Widow’s stories get?
You know, I’m happy that people scrutinize the Widow’s storylines and care about it and are invested. I’d much rather it be like that than have a kind of “meh” reaction. For me to have people say that would be, ouch, you know? Everything that I’ve done with the Widow, to me makes sense. It’s in line with active decisions that I’ve made for the character. I’ve been able to develop this character very closely with Joss and [Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo].
So when people get fired up, you’re like, all right, we pushed some buttons?
Yes, of course! That’s better than the mediocre reaction, definitely. We expect that. The character is so beloved. You can only hope that people are going have opinions about it, you know? She somehow ends up always on top, even if you’re not always in agreement with how she gets there.”
The film features an ensemble cast that includes Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Frank Grillo, Daniel Brühl, and William Hurt.
Captain America: Civil War is scheduled to be released on May 6, 2016, in 3D and IMAX 3D.
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