BLACK WIDOW: Earlier Version Of The Movie Featured Yelena Belova As Natasha Romanoff's Adversary

Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson has revealed that there was an earlier version of the movie that just didn't work for her, and the focus would have been on Yelena Belova gunning for Natasha Romanoff...

By JoshWilding - Jul 13, 2021 04:07 AM EST

Filed Under: Black Widow

Source: MTV

Black Widow is very much a movie about family, but an earlier iteration was set to take things in a very different direction. During a recent interview with MTV News, Scarlett Johansson shared some insight into a version of the Phase 4 movie that would have focused on the comic book rivalry between Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova.

The latter has traditionally been portrayed as a villain in the source material, and while that has changed over the past couple of years, Johansson wasn't on board with the idea of a female big bad for this movie.

"This film had many iterations. There was a version of it that was very status quo," the actress explained. "Yelena and Natasha were adversaries and Yelena's trying to dethrone her, like that whatever spy espionage version [that] was. I was like, 'I cannot go back to work for this.'"

"And then there was another version that I developed that was really existential and kind of weird. Kevin Feige was like, 'I don't think I can come into work for this.' It was weird, I liked it."

It's understandable that Johansson wouldn't necessarily want to head down the clichéd route of two women battling each other, though we are curious what that weirder take on Black Widow was!

The movie certainly felt like something new from Marvel Studios, with a different feel compared to previous solo outings. Despite that, we did get the expected "explodey" final act, and that could be why some critics didn't enjoy it as much as others (even so, Black Widow is sitting at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Would you have liked to see a villainous Yelena Belova in the MCU?

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...

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59 Comments

1 2

WeaponXCII - 7/13/2021, 4:51 AM

“Johansson wasn't on board with the idea of a female big bad.”

GwenLantern - 7/13/2021, 5:02 AM

So they found a perfect balance between art and commerce. I like it.

The comics started out with a more adversarial relationship betwen the two Black Widows (as seen in the art up above).
Most of the source material for this movie is actually really good and well worth checking out. Especially the trilogy of stories introducing Yelena for Marvel Knights.

Marvel Knights Black Widow by Grayson & Rucka: The Complete Collection.

After Wandavision, I feel like everyone put Tom King's The Vision on their reading list. Even those who just watch the movies and don't really read the comics. They should do the same for Black Widow. Hope it starts a trend.

Be warned though, the movie may be family friendly, but the book is way more adult. There's a lot of graphic BDSM in it. Seriously.

BackwardGalaxy - 7/13/2021, 5:26 AM

I'm just glad Rachel Weisz's character didn't end up being the big bad in the end. That would have been so boring.

heyy1 - 7/13/2021, 5:36 AM

@BackwardGalaxy - but more interesting than what we got

Whaley87 - 7/13/2021, 5:42 AM

@heyy1 - Definitely not.

slickrickdesigns - 7/13/2021, 5:28 AM

I wouldn’t have minded Natasha and her sister clashing while her sister was still under mind control just to have that real stand-off moment rather than the somewhat playful fight they had.

1 2

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BLACK WIDOW: Earlier Version Of The Movie Featured Yelena Belova As Natasha Romanoff's Adversary

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