With Avengers: Doomsday coming up, Scarlett Johansson opens up about whether or not Black Widow may be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The end is approaching for The Multiverse Saga, with Phase 6 getting closer to kicking off Marvel Studios’ remaining slate of movies and TV shows for this ongoing storyline.

Next year, Avengers: Doomsday will be released, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, and many fans are curious to see what actors from the MCU may be back for the two massive installments.

In a new interview with InStyle, Johansson spoke about her time as Black Widow at Marvel Studios while also addressing whether she may be coming back to the franchise. However, as much as fans want to see her reprise the role, Johannson stressed the following:

Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay? They just don’t want to believe it. 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.

What Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow Return Comments Mean

Given that Black Widow has been a huge fan-favorite ever since she first showed up in the MCU during Phase 1, it makes sense why a lot of fans are still not over her death in Avengers: Endgame. From Johansson’s comments, it’s clear that Marvel Studios isn’t undoing Natasha’s death, given its important role in the 2019 installment.

However, just because the story is completed for this specific version of Black Widow, it doesn’t mean that the door is entirely closed for Johansson to come back to the MCU.

What’s interesting about Johansson’s response is that she only talks about Earth-616’s Natasha, she never says that she is against the idea of playing a new version of Black Widow or another Marvel character entirely.

Given the multiverse concept at Marvel’s disposal, it would be genuinely shocking if Johansson isn’t back in either the Avengers: Doomsday cast or Avengers: Secret Wars as a variant of some kind.

Having her back as a twisted incarnation of Natasha, similar to Robert Downey Jr.’s upcoming Doctor Doom debut, would be a major way to raise the stakes and pull at the emotional heartstrings of the audience.

Our Take On Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow Return Comments

While it’s perfectly reasonable that Johansson wants to protect her main version of Natasha, it wouldn’t be shocking if she and Marvel Studios have already discussed her potential return for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Since Avengers: Doomsday filming is set to start this spring, there are bound to be some huge surprises in store for the MCU audience.

Hopefully, Johansson will be one of the many MCU actors to make her way back to the franchise, especially for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.