Scarlett Johnansson Worried Black Widow’s Endgame Death Would Scare Kids
Avengers: Endgame star Scarlett Johansson reveals Black Widow's death scene in the film was originally much scarier. Avengers: Endgame served as the conclusion to the impressive Infinity Saga that began with Iron Man. It introduced film audiences to dozens of heroes, including Captain America, Thor, Hulk, and Johansson's character, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. Johansson made her MCU debut in Iron Man 2 and appeared in several other Marvel films before her character's sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame.
Black Widow's death scene was one of the film's more surprising moments, as she and Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye travel to Vormir to collect the Soul Stone. Throughout the scene, it's unclear if Hawkeye or Black Widow will be the one to sacrifice themselves for the good of the world. However, Natasha becomes the ultimate hero in the end, joining Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, who died at the end of the film. Though quite different, both death scenes have their merits.
However, according to a recent EW interview, Black Widow's death scene almost looked a lot different. Johansson shared that an original version of the scene included "an army of Dementor-type creatures," referencing the well-known horrors from the Harry Potter books and movies. She also mentioned they might have been too scary for younger fans, saying, "I was thinking, ‘Parents will never forgive us for how these creatures look.'” Johansson also weighed in on the final scene that made it into Avengers: Endgame, explaining "We wanted to leave [the audience] with the weight of that loss and the shock of it."
Despite her emotional death, fans haven't seen the last of Black Widow. She'll lead a long-awaited solo film in May, though its release date could very well change due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Black Widow is set after Captain America: Civil War, thus allowing for Natasha's appearance. There's a possibility fellow departed Avenger Tony Stark could make an appearance as well, though Downey Jr. can neither confirm nor deny that. Either way, Black Widow will also introduce audiences to two more Black Widows in Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz's new characters.
With how many characters and stories Avengers: Endgame had to service, it's not surprising that some scenes were altered, even after being filmed the first time. In fact, the Russo brothers, who directed the film, have been open in the past about how often rewrites happen on their sets. In this case, the quieter death scene for Black Widow worked, turning it into a poignant moment between two friends. It may not be as flashy as Iron Man's sacrifice, but it's still a strong scene in Avengers: Endgame.
Source: EW