Key Takeaways:
– Lionsgate planned a Black Widow film in 2004, even before the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
– The plan was abandoned due to underwhelming performances of other female-led films in the box office.
– Problems with genre saturation and concerns over merchandise sales were also factors in the delay of a solo Black Widow project.
Long before Scarlett Johansson donned the black suit as Natasha Romanoff, or the Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Lionsgate had ambitious plans to make a movie around the popular character. Introduced to the world in 2010's Iron Man 2, Black Widow immediately became a fan favorite, especially among the female audience. So what made Lionsgate drop their enthusiasm for a Black Widow stand-alone film?
Scrapped Plans and a String of Disappointments
Lionsgate was convinced that Black Widow was the right choice for a new project, especially in light of the popularity of spy films like Jason Bourne and James Bond. They even roped in David Hayter, known for his writing prowess in X-Men and X2, for the project.
However, as Hayter was scripting the Black Widow film, a series of female-led films hit the theaters with diverse outcomes. While some like Tomb Raider and Kill Bill made an impression, others like BloodRayne, Ultraviolet, and Æon Flux received a cold response. Charlize Theron's Æon Flux was considered the last straw that acted as a deterrent to Lionsgate's Black Widow project.
Contextualizing the Impact of Æon Flux
The movie Æon Flux was a key player in swaying the studio's decision. With a budget of $62 million, the film only managed to rake in around $53 million at the box office, causing it to be labeled as a commercial failure. It portrayed the harsh reality–if a movie focusing on a female lead could not meet box office expectations, it would inevitably fail. As a consequence, Lionsgate deemed it unwise to take the risk and moved beyond their earlier plan of a Black Widow film.
Understanding the Black Widow Conundrum
Despite Natasha Romanoff's heroic sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame and subsequent tribute through a prequel, questions around her absence on screen for so long hung heavy. As it turns out, it was Ike Perlmutter, the former head of MCU, who resisted the idea of female-led projects. He believed these could negatively affect merchandising sales.
In an email sent in 2015, Perlmutter expressed his reservations about female-led Marvel movies. The company's reluctance to introduce Wasp, despite being a founding member in the comics, even fueled the discourse around the lack of representation.
However, with Perlmutter's departure, the MCU began shedding its bias. This ushered in projects like Black Panther and Captain Marvel, both of which soared high at the box office, thus breaking the stereotypes surrounding superhero movies.
Conclusion
Black Widow's journey in the MCU has been a perfect amalgamation of triumphs and tribulations. Despite countless hurdles, her story was eventually told. However, it's worth pondering how things could have been different if Lionsgate hadn't ditched their plan for an independent Black Widow film back in 2004. Only time will tell if more female-led superhero movies become the norm rather than an exception.
