‘Black Widow’: Some MCU Fans Still Want a TV Show Instead of a Movie
Tony Stark and Steve Rogers may be the faces of the Avengers, but Black Widow made up the group’s backbone. The character finally got the big screen treatment with Black Widow, which premiered in theaters and on Disney+ in July 2021. The film kicks off Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and fans are responding well to it.
While many are happy with the movie, other fans would still like it turned into a streaming series on Disney+ in the vein of several other Marvel characters. Read on to find out what some fans are saying about Black Widow as a character for a streaming show and why it might make sense.
(Warning: If you haven’t yet seen Black Widow, this post will contain several spoilers about the film.)
The long awaited ‘Black Widow’ movie finally hit theaters
Black Widow was supposed to start the MCU’s Phase 4 in 2020, but it got delayed due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Disney eventually released it during the summer of 2021. The delay saw several other Marvel properties get their release dates ahead of it — namely the three Disney+ series WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki.
The film is a prequel, following Natasha Romanoff as she meets up with her surrogate sister, Yelena, prior to the events of Avengers: Infinity War. Both are graduates of the Black Widow program and aim to stop the program’s founder, the evil General Dreykov.
Black Widow died in Avengers: Endgame, and there doesn’t seem to be any plan to bring her back. While Scarlett Johansson‘s time in the MCU may be at an end, the same can’t be said for Florence Pugh’s Yelena. Based on a post-credits scene, it would appear that Marvel has big plans for her as a potential new Black Widow, following in her sister’s footsteps.
Some MCU fans want a ‘Black Widow’ show in addition to a movie
One of the coolest aspects of seeing Black Widow’s story told in a movie is that fans finally get an opportunity to see her background filled out. Some Marvel fans took to Reddit to say they wouldn’t mind seeing more of that story explored, but in a streaming series rather than another film:
“I just feel that that medium, instead of a movie, would allow for a deeper dive into her background and do her justice.”
If the movie’s success is any indication, fans would definitely go for even more Black Widow. This sentiment makes a lot of sense when you consider what Disney+ has done for the multiple Marvel characters it features on the platform.
Marvel has experienced much success with its Disney+ shows
Marvel’s streaming series have all been radically different in style and tone. WandaVision took the format of multiple eras of classic sitcoms. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier played like part spy thriller, part action movie. And Loki is a mystery with comedic elements.
All three shows may vary in terms of the content, but they all have one thing in common: They’re all character studies of their main characters. WandaVision has a lot to say about processing grief and shows us a woman struggling to move on from losing a loved one. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier follows two men grappling with their own identities. Loki deals with the idea of self-forgiveness and the ability to do good things after a lifetime spent doing bad ones.
It’s easy to see how Black Widow could fit into this format. There’s plenty of background left to mine for either Natasha or Yelena, and there’s no reason it can’t be explored in a limited series.
