Scarlett Johansson: Black Widow Not in ‘Iron Man 3’

The cast of Iron Man 3 has been shaping up the last two weeks, but word has just come down about one notable actor who will not be returning. Despite a casting call that Walt Disney  put out at the end of March stating Scarlett Johansson would appear in the film, the actress has said she will not be reprising her role as Black Widow.

An a video interview with Screen Rant while promoting next weekend's The Avengers, Johansson Natasha Romanoff would not be in the three-quel, but mentioned her hope that Black Widow would get a "Bourne"-like starring vehicle in the future. Perhaps if The Avengers does exceptionally well with female audiences, Marvel Studios will consider a greenlight for such a project, or at least a co-adventure with Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, a foundation for which Screen Rant says The Avengers lays quite nicely.


So rather than S.H.I.E.L.D. being involved in Iron Man 3, it appears the film could actually be totally independent of The Avengers. It's hard to imagine some little seed won't be planted for a sequel to the May 4 blockbuster — and conspiracy theorists might smell a cameo cover-up — but it looks like Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) won't have to worry about Nick Fury and Co. bothering him this time around.

Iron Man 3 begins filming next month for a May 3, 2013 release.