BLACK WIDOW Director Reveals Whether There Was Any Truth To Those Rumors About An Iron Man Cameo

Black Widow director Cate Shortland has revealed whether those rumours about Robert Downey Jr. showing up as Tony Stark/Iron Man were accurate, all while explaining why it ultimately didn't happen...

By JoshWilding - Jul 10, 2021 07:07 AM EST

Filed Under: Black Widow

Near the end of Captain America: Civil War, Tony Stark warned Natasha Romanoff that General Ross would be coming after her when she decided to help Captain America and Bucky evade capture.

In Black Widow [Minor Spoiler Warning], the hero is already on the run and manages to evade Ross with relative ease. As a result, the long-rumoured Iron Man cameo never happens, which is a surprise when it was widely rumoured that the character would appear (with it later suggested that unused footage from Civil War would be featured in the solo adventure).

So, was Tony ever set to factor into the first Phase 4 movie?

"Initially, there was discussions about everything, about all of the different characters," Black Widow director Cate Shortland tells Total Film. "What we decided was, and I think Kevin was really great, he said, 'She doesn't need the boys.' We didn't want it to feel like she needs the support. We want her to stand alone. And she does."

While it's certainly possible that Marvel Studios considered opening the movie with an Iron Man cameo, it seems the decision was made fairly early on not to rely on "bigger" names from the wider MCU.

Black Widow is now playing in theaters and on Disney+'s Premier Access service, and the response from fans has so far been extremely positive. We're expecting box office numbers later today or tomorrow, but it is looking likely that the first Phase 4 movie is going to vastly exceed expectations.

Click on the "Next" button below for our breakdown
of what did and didn't work in Black Widow!

Did Work: A Story Worth Telling

"What's the point of a Black Widow movie?" That's a question fans have been asking for a while now, especially after Natasha Romanoff's story came to an end in Avengers: Endgame. It's no secret that this movie is set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, and rest assured this proves to be a story that's worth telling.

There's little here that really explains what the MCU looked like in the wake of the Sokovia Accords being enforced, but that means you'll find a lot more than just a series of cameos and Easter Eggs.

This hard-hitting story about family fleshes out Natasha's past, while also laying the groundwork for this shared world's future. Did we need this to explore this corner of the MCU? Some will argue that the answer is "no," but you'd be mad to think that after watching because this movie is a blast.

Didn't Work: No Budapest (Or Winter Soldier)

Without spoiling anything too major here, there is a flashback to the mission that saw Natasha join S.H.I.E.L.D. (you'll even hear a familiar voice), but we don't get to see Hawkeye and Black Widow fighting side-by-side in Budapest. In some ways, that would be completely unnecessary as the movie tells us more than enough about what led to them teaming up.

As a result, showing it really would have been superfluous to the larger story being told, with a flashback doing little to add to the overall narrative. However, there are ways the movie could have been structured to allow for that, and it's easy to imagine a lot of fans being disappointed.

It's also a shame that the teased history between Natasha and The Winter Soldier we first heard about in Captain America: Civil War isn't addressed in any way, which is a pity when you have to believe him showing up in the Red Room or taking down Red Guardian before he was imprisoned would have been a cool way to tie a lot of lingering plot threads together.

Did Work: Blockbuster Action

Black Widow doesn't have superpowers, but that doesn't mean Marvel Studios doesn't pull out all the stops for this action-packed solo movie. Yes, things do get a little explodey in the final act, but that was to be expected, and the visuals are nothing short of incredible throughout.

Whether it's Natasha's battles with Taskmaster, her and Yelena going on the run through Budapest, or an incredible prison break sequence (that includes an avalanche), this movie never disappoints.

So, rest assured that while this first Phase 4 movie doesn't feature a character like Thor or Doctor Strange, it never shies away from making this one of Marvel's most action-packed titles. That alone promises to make this a must-watch on the biggest screen you can find.

Did Work: Family Dynamic

You've probably heard a lot about Black Widow being a movie about family, and that's 100% the case. The bizarre dynamic shared by Alexei, Melina, Natasha, and Yelena takes up a decent chunk of the movie, with the dinner scene above an undeniable highlight (albeit a fairly brief one).

It's how things play out throughout the rest of the movie that really resonates, though, including a flashback to Natasha and Yelena's childhood, and the way those two women bond after finding each other again. We can believe that they're "sisters," and the chemistry Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh share is phenomenal.

However, it's Red Guardian's relationship with his "daughters" that becomes perhaps the most touching part of this blockbuster. When we do catch up with these characters again, Marvel Studios has ensured we'll fully buy into them mourning for Natasha, despite the fact that their history with her has only been explored in one movie.

Didn't Work: An Abrupt Ending

Again, we're not going to drop anything too huge here, but if there's one part of Black Widow that will almost certainly leave you feeling disappointed, it's the way things so rapidly conclude.

After the final battle, it feels a lot like Marvel Studios suddenly remembered they had to get Natasha in the right place to explain how she ended up fighting alongside the Secret Avengers in Infinity War. As a result, that leaves a noteworthy plot hole, a big unanswered question, and a sense of confusion. It's almost as if there's a scene missing or there were once plans for a different ending.

Perhaps this will all be addressed down the line, with the reveal that Natasha was replaced off screen by a Skrull imposter. We're not banking on it, though, and this is the only sloppy part of an otherwise excellent movie.

Did Work: "T-800" Taskmaster

The Taskmaster costume certainly isn't the best design Marvel Studios' talented team of concept artists has come up with, but we're pleased to report that it looks a lot better in motion.

From the character's very first appearance on screen, it's clear he's a force to be reckoned with, and a legit threat to even someone like Natasha (who has fought aliens, robots, and even her fellow Avengers at this point). We'd have liked to see him pull a few more moves from well-known heroes and villains from his arsenal, but there's hopefully room for that down the line.

Regardless, this version of Taskmaster is an absolute beast, and comparisons to the T-800 in Terminator are definitely appropriate. It feels like the surface of this villain has barely been scratched in Black Widow, so fingers crossed we don't have another Ghost on our hands here.

Did Work: Taskmaster's Secret Identity

Don't panic, we're not about to spill the beans on who is really beneath that hood! A few of us have seen the movie here at CBM already, and none of us experienced this reveal in the exact same way.

Someone telegraphed it from the start, another writer was taken completely by surprise, while the third figured it out as the movie progressed (by a process of elimination). Whatever happens with you, rest assured that this big Black Widow reveal is almost certainly going to leave a lasting impact.

It could have gone badly wrong, but it proves to be a clever twist and one Marvel Studios handled well. We'd definitely have appreciated spending a little more time with the unmasked Taskmaster, but it seems like that's a story for another day...well, as we mentioned before, we certainly hope so, anyway!

Did Work: Everything About Red Guardian

After the disappointment that was Hellboy, David Harbour has fully redeemed himself as Black Widow's Red Guardian. Despite occasionally falling into the role of "comic relief," there are more than enough emotional beats to help Alexei become a three-dimensional character we're now keen to see much more of in the MCU.

He may be out of shape, but Red Guardian also just so happens to be a legit badass, and whether it's a prequel exploring his glory days as a superhero for the Soviet Union or a follow-up to this movie, we'd love to see where he can go from here.

It's also worth mentioning Rachel Weisz's Melina here, because while we don't want to get into too many specifics (due to spoilers), we think you'll love what she brings to the table. Fierce and quirky in equal measures, she another character with future storytelling potential.

Didn't Work: An Unnecessary Ally

O. T. Fagbenle is a talented actor, but in Black Widow...well, he doesn't really add much to this movie. As Rick Mason, he's a character who has a shared history with Natasha, and their playful banter is by no means a chore to sit through; it just doesn't make much of a difference to anything!

He's basically just there as a plot device to provide the hero with the weapons she needs, and there are definitely ways Mason could have been completely cut. If so, he honestly wouldn't have been missed.

Wasting Fagbenle is on Marvel Studios, and while not everyone needs to have an alter-ego or be set up to appear in a future project, there are probably better supporting players who could have been plucked from the comic books. Sure, there are ways Mason could return down the line, but it's hard to imagine anyone crying out for that the way they have with other characters.

Did Work: The MCU's New Black Widow

Black Widow definitely doesn't end with Yelena Belova picking up Natasha's mantle and running off to join The Avengers, but it certainly feels like the plan is for her to take on that role in the MCU.

In a lot of ways, it seems Phase 4 is all about passing mantles (just look at what's happened with Captain America, not to mention what we know about plans for Thor and Hawkeye). Having Yelena pick up where Natasha left off just makes sense and gives the MCU another badass female character for people to root for who doesn't boast the same powers as Captain Marvel or Sersi.

This is a character with a lot of potential, especially as she's clearly going to be a very different Black Widow to her predecessor. At times, this feels more like Yelena's movie than Natasha's, but not in a bad way, and you'll be left very excited about where this badass superspy is going next...

Ray Winstone Reflects On Soul-Destroying BLACK WIDOW Role: It's Like Being Kicked In The Balls

Recommended For You:

BLACK WIDOW: Saoirse Ronan Reportedly Turned Down Yelena Belova Role In 2021 MCU Movie

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

114 Comments

1 2 3

Menks123 - 7/10/2021, 7:31 AM

I think this was absolutely great for a solo BW at this point. Settling her past and demons and introducing 3 great characters to the MCU.

Now, I am definitely in the boat of this should have happened waaaaaay long ago, but not holding it against the movie like I see some weird reviewers doing.

Pampero - 7/10/2021, 7:34 AM

This movie was trash

Ha1frican - 7/10/2021, 8:17 AM

@Pampero - I actually really enjoyed it. The last little bit after the climax fell apart a bit but this feels very much like Winter Soldiers little sister and that’s by far the best solo movie IMO

LSHF - 7/10/2021, 8:29 AM

@Pampero - Your comment is no only trash, but stinky, filthy, rotten trash. I hope you spent money on it.

LSHF - 7/10/2021, 8:33 AM

@Ha1frican - The last part held together just fine. I don't know what you were expecting or wanting from it. Could you be more specific instead of some general statement? Do you mean it "slowed down" or what? What do you mean by "fell apart"?

tripttwe - 7/10/2021, 1:57 PM

@Pampero - I'm starting to think LSHF IS Victoria Alonzo.

Satan - 7/11/2021, 6:58 PM

@Pampero - just like your opinion.

Doomsday8888 - 7/10/2021, 7:35 AM

This.

F*ck Tony Stark.

Watts should take note. :P

1 2 3

Related Headlines

Black Widow

Ray Winstone Reflects On "Soul-Destroying" BLACK WIDOW Role: "It's Like Being Kicked In The Balls"

JoshWilding

Feb 29, 2024 05:02 AM

Black Widow

BLACK WIDOW: Saoirse Ronan Reportedly Turned Down Yelena Belova Role In 2021 MCU Movie

JoshWilding

Jan 04, 2024 08:01 AM

Black Widow

BLACK WIDOW: Writer Of Scrapped 2004 Movie Reveals His Plans For An Awesome "Needle-Drop" Moment

JoshWilding

Dec 29, 2023 04:12 AM

Related Headlines

Black Widow

Ray Winstone Reflects On "Soul-Destroying" BLACK WIDOW Role: "It's Like Being Kicked In The Balls"

JoshWilding

Feb 29, 2024 05:02 AM

Black Widow

BLACK WIDOW: Saoirse Ronan Reportedly Turned Down Yelena Belova Role In 2021 MCU Movie

JoshWilding

Jan 04, 2024 08:01 AM

Black Widow

BLACK WIDOW: Writer Of Scrapped 2004 Movie Reveals His Plans For An Awesome "Needle-Drop" Moment

JoshWilding

Dec 29, 2023 04:12 AM

Thunderbolts

David Harbour Teases The Complex Relationship Between Red Guardian And Yelena In THUNDERBOLTS

MarkJulian

Nov 29, 2023 07:11 AM

Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson Responds To Reports That She May Be Set To Return As BLACK WIDOW

MarkCassidy

Nov 13, 2023 12:11 PM

Black Widow

The Batman

THE BATMAN Star Zoë Kravitz Makes Her Directorial Debut With BLINK TWICE - Check Out The First Trailer

MarkCassidy

1 hour ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: New Statues And Standee Offer Another Look At Wade Wilson And Logan's Costumes

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Latest Headlines

Marvel Comics

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 Sees An Unexpected Character Deliver Classic "Great Power" Line - SPOILERS

JoshWilding

43 mins ago

The Batman

THE BATMAN Star Zoë Kravitz Makes Her Directorial Debut With BLINK TWICE - Check Out The First Trailer

MarkCassidy

1 hour ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: New Statues And Standee Offer Another Look At Wade Wilson And Logan's Costumes

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

X-MEN Star Famke Janssen Backtracks On DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Claims: "You Never Know..."

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Sci-Fi

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Reveals How His Extended Cuts Are Completely Different Movies

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Dune

DUNE: PART TWO Director Denis Villeneuve On Whether Paul Is Really The Messiah And Threequel Plans - SPOILERS

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Hot Headlines

268 comments

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Official Trailer Features Ultimate Team-Up & Promises The Wildest MCU Movie Of All-Time!

RohanPatel

1 day ago EST

155 comments

MAN OF STEEL Director Zack Snyder Says Superman Would Be "Fake" If He Hadn't Killed General Zod

JoshWilding

17 hours ago EST

83 comments

Former X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Show Will Address Mr. Sinister's Racism

MarkCassidy

18 hours ago EST

82 comments

MADAME WEB Star Sydney Sweeney Seemingly Takes Shot At Hollywood Producer: "Sorry For Having Great T**s"

JoshWilding

2 days ago EST

81 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

X-MEN '97 Finally Reveals Its True Villain In Bright Eyes As We Get A Few Shocking Returns - SPOILERS

More Cartoons & Animated ►

GTA 5 Voice Actor Reveals Plans For Agent Trevor DLC Before Rockstar Apparently Scrapped It

More Anime & Manga ►

BLINK TWICE: Channing Tatum Invites You To Pussy Island In First Trailer For Zoë Kravitz's Directorial Debut

More Horror ►

MONKEY MAN Exclusive Interview With Mask Designer Eddie Yang; Dev Patel Film Now Available On Digital HD

More Action Movies & TV ►

Finn Balor Has Reportedly Signed Big Money Deal To Remain In WWE Despite Interest From AEW

More Pro Wrestling ►

APPLE TV+'s NEUROMANCER Casts Callum Turner As Series Lead Case

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

BLACK WIDOW Director Reveals Whether There Was Any Truth To Those Rumors About An Iron Man Cameo

Black Widow director Cate Shortland has revealed whether those rumours about Robert Downey Jr. showing up as Tony Stark/Iron Man were accurate, all while explaining why it ultimately didn't happen...

Did Work: A Story Worth Telling

Didn't Work: No Budapest (Or Winter Soldier)

Did Work: Blockbuster Action

Did Work: Family Dynamic

Didn't Work: An Abrupt Ending

Did Work: "T-800" Taskmaster

Did Work: Taskmaster's Secret Identity

Did Work: Everything About Red Guardian

Didn't Work: An Unnecessary Ally

Did Work: The MCU's New Black Widow

Ray Winstone Reflects On "Soul-Destroying" BLACK WIDOW Role: "It's Like Being Kicked In The Balls"

BLACK WIDOW: Saoirse Ronan Reportedly Turned Down Yelena Belova Role In 2021 MCU Movie

Ray Winstone Reflects On "Soul-Destroying" BLACK WIDOW Role: "It's Like Being Kicked In The Balls"

BLACK WIDOW: Saoirse Ronan Reportedly Turned Down Yelena Belova Role In 2021 MCU Movie

BLACK WIDOW: Writer Of Scrapped 2004 Movie Reveals His Plans For An Awesome "Needle-Drop" Moment

Ray Winstone Reflects On "Soul-Destroying" BLACK WIDOW Role: "It's Like Being Kicked In The Balls"

BLACK WIDOW: Saoirse Ronan Reportedly Turned Down Yelena Belova Role In 2021 MCU Movie

BLACK WIDOW: Writer Of Scrapped 2004 Movie Reveals His Plans For An Awesome "Needle-Drop" Moment

David Harbour Teases The Complex Relationship Between Red Guardian And Yelena In THUNDERBOLTS

Scarlett Johansson Responds To Reports That She May Be Set To Return As BLACK WIDOW

BLACK WIDOW Star David Harbour Confirms The Movie's Third Act Was Reworked...While They Were Shooting

Popular Headlines

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Major Marvel Cameo In The New Trailer - Possible SPOILERS

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rob Liefeld Responds To Trailer's Shot At His Apparent Inability To Draw Feet

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Rumored To Feature An Appearance From [SPOILER] As [SPOILER]

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: 7 Biggest Easter Eggs, Reveals, And Spoilers In The New Trailer

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: What Happened That Led To Logan "[Letting] Down His Entire World"?

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 Sees An Unexpected Character Deliver Classic "Great Power" Line - SPOILERS

THE BATMAN Star Zoë Kravitz Makes Her Directorial Debut With BLINK TWICE - Check Out The First Trailer

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: New Statues And Standee Offer Another Look At Wade Wilson And Logan's Costumes

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 Sees An Unexpected Character Deliver Classic "Great Power" Line - SPOILERS

THE BATMAN Star Zoë Kravitz Makes Her Directorial Debut With BLINK TWICE - Check Out The First Trailer

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: New Statues And Standee Offer Another Look At Wade Wilson And Logan's Costumes

X-MEN Star Famke Janssen Backtracks On DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Claims: "You Never Know..."

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Reveals How His Extended Cuts Are Completely Different Movies

DUNE: PART TWO Director Denis Villeneuve On Whether Paul Is Really The Messiah And Threequel Plans - SPOILERS

Hot Headlines

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Official Trailer Features Ultimate Team-Up & Promises The Wildest MCU Movie Of All-Time!

MAN OF STEEL Director Zack Snyder Says Superman Would Be "Fake" If He Hadn't Killed General Zod

Former X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Show Will Address Mr. Sinister's Racism

MADAME WEB Star Sydney Sweeney Seemingly Takes Shot At Hollywood Producer: "Sorry For Having Great T**s"

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Major Marvel Cameo In The New Trailer - Possible SPOILERS

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

APPLE TV+'s NEUROMANCER Casts Callum Turner As Series Lead Case

DUNE: PART TWO Director Denis Villeneuve Breaks Down The Sequel's Ending And Teases MESSIAH Plans - SPOILERS

Jennifer Lopez Battle An A.I. Simu Liu In New Trailer For Netflix's ATLAS

REBEL MOON: Zack Snyder Says Director's Cuts Are "More Like A Parallel Universe Than An Extended Version"

Daisy Ridley Teases The Different STAR WARS Film That Will Hopefully Be A "New Adventure"

Zack Snyder's Animated Norse Mythology Series TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Will Be Released This Fall

Cartoons & Animated Features

X-MEN '97 Finally Reveals Its True Villain In "Bright Eyes" As We Get A Few Shocking Returns - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: "Bright Eyes" Unleashes Rogue And Features TWO Huge Marvel Universe Cameos - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: Rogue Is Out For Revenge In First Clip From Tomorrow's New Episode, "Bright Eyes"

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - PART 2 Is Likely To Disappoint Fans Of BATMAN BEYOND - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: Former Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Series Will "Touch On" Mr. Sinister's Racism

BIG HERO 6 Producer Reveals Why We STILL Haven't Got A Sequel To Disney Animation's Marvel Movie

Gaming

GTA 5 Voice Actor Reveals Plans For "Agent Trevor" DLC Before Rockstar Apparently Scrapped It

TALES OF THE SHIRE: A LORD OF THE RINGS GAME Official Announcement Trailer Released

FALLOUT Series Showrunners Strongly Hint Season 2 Will Take Us To An Iconic Location From The Games

Billie Eilish Headlines FORTNITE FESTIVAL Season 3

LaKeith Stanfield To Star In Film Based On EL PASO, ELSEWHERE Vampire Video Game

Comedy Central Orders 10-Episode GOLDEN AXE Animated Series From Mike McMahan And Joe Chandler

Anime & Manga

New Trailer For GAROUDEN: THE WAY OF THE LONE WOLF Released Ahead Of Netflix Debut

Netflix's ONE PIECE Finds New Showrunner In PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS' Joe Tracz

DRAGON BALL SUPER Interval Special Announced By Jump While Manga Remains On Indefinite Hiatus

New Teaser And Key Art For Live-Action TRILLION GAME Movie

Netflix's PARASYTE: THE GREY Is Now Streaming; Here's What The Critics Are Saying

MY HERO ACADEMIA Tops X-MEN '97, INVINCIBLE And More In Social Media Engagement

Horror

BLINK TWICE: Channing Tatum Invites You To "Pussy Island" In First Trailer For Zoë Kravitz's Directorial Debut

THE WATCHERS New Trailer Sees Dakota Fanning Terrorised In Ishana Night Shyamalan's Directorial Debut

EVIL DEAD RISE Director Lee Cronin Shares Gruesome New BTS Photos To Mark Movie's One-Year Anniversary

Happy 4/20! Check Out The Red Band Trailer For New Stoner Horror Movie TRIM SEASON

ABIGAIL Spoilers: Find Out What Happens - And Who Shows Up - In New Horror Comedy

TRAP: First Trailer For M. Night Shyamalan's Latest Spoils The Big Twist

Action Movies & TV