While Avengers: Endgame may be the highest-grossing movie of all time, the Russo brothers-directed blockbuster also caused a few controversies. The most widely spoken about concerns the fate of Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, who died on the planet Vormir so that Hawkeye could retrieve the Soul Stone.
Many fans were upset that the character was not given a funeral scene like Tony Stark, while others were disappointed that she died in such a way. Yet, Johansson herself argues that Natasha's sacrifice was the character finally making "an active choice" after her 10-year journey.
"I love Natasha,” she tells Total Film in the new issue. “She’s had an incredible 10-year journey, and I felt that she was finally able to make an active choice. It seemed very in-character, that ultimate sacrifice that she makes. She’s made peace with that, and, in some ways, has known that’s her destiny all along, in a weird poetic way. When you look back on the films, that’s in there. All the films have led her to that choice – or to be able to make that choice; or for it to be a choice.”
Johansson adds that the upcoming Black Widow movie offers “resolution” for fans of the character, while director Cate Shortland assures that the film will “honour” Natasha’s death in Endgame. "That [death] gives Black Widow an added heart at the end, because it’s not wrapping [the story] up," Shortland adds. "It’s actually what you feel – it’s not a narrative thing. It’s like, how do we make the audience feel?"
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For more on Black Widow – including interviews with Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbour, and Shortland – pick up a copy of the new issue of Total Film magazine, when it hits shelves on this Friday, September 18. You can also see exclusive images from the Marvel Phase 4 movie here. Black Widow is scheduled to open in the UK on October 28, and in the US on November 6.
Check out the new covers of Total Film below; the one on the right is on its way to subscribers right now.
Black Widow's back! The Avenger leads the new issue of Total Film, which features exclusive interviews with Scarlett Johansson, Cate Shortland, Florence Pugh, and more. On newsstands this Friday – subscribers, your copy's in the post now! #BlackWidow pic.twitter.com/gdwouhf4h2September 14, 2020
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