Marvel’s ‘Black Widow’ Tracks Down A Director In Cate Shortland
We don’t know much about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe beyondAvengers 4, but we do know this much: the future is female. AfterCaptain Marvelshatters the MCU’s glass ceiling next near,Scarlett Johansson’sBlack Widowwill take center stage in her own solo movie and now we know who will direct it: Australian filmmakerCate Shortland.
If that name sounds familiar, that’s because Shortlandemerged as a frontrunnerfor the role a few weeks ago. But now,The Hollywood Reporterhas confirmed that she has nabbed the gig, beating out over 70 other filmmakers for the job. THR reports that while Marvel Studios did look at several male filmmakers, finding a woman for the job remained a top priority. Other finalists for the job included Amma Asante, Maggie Betts, Melanie Laurent, and Kimberly Pierce. Jac Schaeffer wrote the screenplay.
While Shortland is not a well-known name, she has a fan in Johansson, who reportedly pushed for her hiring after watching her 2012 World War II dramaLore. More recently, Shortland directed 2017’sBerlin Syndrome. Her other credits includeSomersaultand TV shows likeThe Secret Life of UsandBad Cop, Bad Cop.
Plot details about the Black Widow movie remain under lock and key, but rumor has it that the film will be a prequel set before the events of Marvel’s “Phase One” films (Iron ManthroughThe Avengers). Some have even speculated that it will be a full-on prequel, exploring the early career of Natasha Romanoff, the Russian assassin turned Avenger. I’m of the opinion that Black Widow is a far more interesting characteraftershe’s survived several alien invasions and a robot uprising as a non-super-powered spy, but those folks at Marvel seem to know a thing or two about making successful superhero movies and I’m just some guy.
There is no start date or release date set for the Black Widow movie, but it does help give us an outline of what to expect from Marvel Studios' secretive “Phase 4.” We knowGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3andBlack Panther 2are on the way, and anotherDoctor Strangemovie feels inevitable. And then there’sSpider-Man: Far From Home, whose very existence is a spoiler forAvengers 4. How Black Widow fits into this line-up remains to be seen, but I think we can all agree that, after lurking in the shadows for 20 movies, it’s about time she got her own solo adventure.
