With The Avengers, there is plenty of buzz around two certain individuals: Black Widow and The Hulk. Today, it was hinted that the not-so-jolly green giant may in fact be standing on his own in 2015, which looks only better with the fact that Mark Ruffalo revealed he’s locked into a six film deal with Marvel. But, rumblings of a Black Widow stand alone film have slowly been making waves. Now, Kevin Feige has hinted we’ll be seeing more of the super assassin soon enough. Also, it seems that long in development Edgar Wright superhero film isn’t too far off either.
In an interview with Movieline, Feige was asked for updates on both Black Widow and Ant Man:
How far along are we from seeing Black Widow in her own story?
Well, I think you saw it in Avengers. I think that’s one of the many amazing things Joss Whedon can do. I think people are going to be surprised by how powerful Scarlett is in this movie, and how evolved her role is. We have already planned her next appearances and where to take that character because we believe in it and we believe in her in a big, big way. When will there be a standalone? Both is what we’re heading toward. A lot of it is that we’re only going to make two movies a year, maybe sometimes it’ll be one movie a year like this year, maybe someday it’ll be three movies a year just depending on what comes together. But really, it’s two movies. So there’s kind of a backup on the runway right now in terms of when can something go. We do like when some of the characters appear in other people’s movies.
What can you say in the way of an Ant-Man update?
Well, we’ve been working on that movie for forever, it seems. I saw Edgar [Wright] again last night and what I’ve been saying because I believe it to be true is that it’s closer than it’s ever been before.
Now, Feige doesn’t confirm whether or not Black Widow will be getting her own film, but does say “we’re heading towards” it. But, Widow’s two appearances could be in either Thor 2 andCaptain America 2, with the Cap sequel being the most likely as to when we’ll see her (the film deals with the titular hero in the modern day, and last time we checked he was still under S.H.I.E.L.D. watch). However, that second appearance could easily be the rumored S.H.I.E.L.D. film that has slowly been gaining some traction since Neal McDonough’s own comments about the film in January, with a possibility that it could in fact be that mystery 2014 film.
Speaking about 2014, another strong candidate for the spot is Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man. Last time Feige talked on the subject, he sounded incredibly enthusiastic about the movie. Here, he sounds the same, only with even more affirmation. Wright has that upcoming comedy pairing with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost called The World’s End that seems to be his next project, butAnt-Man could easily take priority.
It’s said we’ll learn that May 16th, 2014 film by the time Comic-Con rolls around, and Scarlett Johansson’s Widow has been confirmed that she will not return in next year’s Iron Man 3. Other than the sequels already announced, Marvel’s post-Avengers future is one very shrouded in mystery. Hopefully soon, we’ll be learning just what the superhero company is planning.
For more from Feige’s interview, check it out on Movieline here.
Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the super hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.
Directed by Joss Whedon, and starring Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, and more, The Avengers opens on May 4th.
