More than 10 years after her character’s first onscreen appearance — and another 14 months since it was originally planned for release — Marvel’s “Black Widow” standalone film is finally here. Opening simultaneously in theaters and as a “premier access” title on Disney+ this Friday, “Black Widow” is set between the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War” and represents the swan song of Scarlett Johansson’s original Avenger, Natasha Romanoff. “Normally you don’t have this much distance from something,” she said by Zoom during a recent virtual press day. “Black Widow” aims to fill in some of the gaps, offering a glimpse into her early life and time in the Red Room, a Soviet brainwashing and training program that transforms vulnerable young girls into elite assassins. “I think that’s a gift.”AdvertisementFrom left, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova in Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow.” (Jay Maidment / Marvel Studios)Before the pandemic upended release schedules across Hollywood, “Black Widow” was planned to be the official start of Marvel’s Phase Four.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 07, 2021 12:56 UTC