It's nearly time for the release of Black Widow's first, and maybe last, solo movie of course called Black Widow. The occasion comes over a decade after Scarlett Johansson's character was first introduced to the MCU in Iron Man 2. In that time, it's pretty clear that conversations have changed when it comes to how superheroes, especially female ones, are portrayed.
The character of Black Widow in the MCU has always been criticized. She's very attractive, which is of course no one's fault. However, the series has been called out for using this to turn the character into a sexual object. Black Widow's solo film was a long time coming because people wanted to see something done with her character. People wanted it sooner, but Black Widow herself Johansson says in an interview on the film's set that this is actually a perfect time for her character to be in the spotlight.
The question was asked by Sade Spence as part of a group interview back in 2019 when it was still thought that Black Widow would have a 2020 release. Of course, that didn't happen, but the sentiments given should remain the same. In the interview, Johansson talks a number of things about the film, her character, and what to expect. She points out that in the ten years since playing the character, she as a person has grown up and become a parent, which has shaped her view of how the character was treated. She also spends a pretty lengthy amount of time discussing her character's introduction in Iron Man 2 and how hyper-sexualized she was.
Specifically, she talks about how her character seemed to be a sexual object for Tony Stark/Iron Man, with him even going so far as to say "I want one" in reference to her. And of course, this was no indication that they would be romantically involved. The character actually went on to have romances/flirtations with most of the male Avengers, but not Iron Man. And this was really highly criticized, as people wanted her to be given the same character development that her male counterparts were.
Times have changed since Iron Man 2 was released. Johansson herself says in the interview that while the movie was fun, and at the time the more suggestive treatment felt like a compliment, she doesn't see it that way anymore. Maybe that's why 2021 is actually the perfect time for Black Widow to be released. The acceptable norm is different now, and she's less likely to just be treated as a sexual object. Hopefully, this film cements her character as someone who is important within the universe.
Black Widow will be released in theatres and on Disney Plus with Premier Access on July 9, 2021.
Source: Sade Spence