5 Reasons Black Widow Deserves Her Own Movie

Marvel’s next phase of movies finally includes a movie headlined by a female superhero, Captain Marvel. However, there’s one piece of news that I’m waiting for: news of a Black Widow movie. Since her first appearance in Iron Man 2, Natasha Romanoff has shown herself to be, quite simply, amazing. Whether she’s kicking butt in Manhattan or beating Loki at his own game, it’s clear that Natasha deserves a movie with her own name on it. Let’s look at the reasons why.

1. Black Widow is badass.

There’s no other way to put this. Black Widow gets. things. done. You don’t want to go up against her in a fight. Her agility, her quick thinking, and her pure strength are forces to be reckoned with.

Natasha has incredible combat skills, but also a sharp mind. In The Avengers, we see her break down in front of Loki, and assume she’s having a moment of weakness -- yet she was actually manipulating him. She knows other people’s weaknesses and how to use them. And yet, with her teammates, the Avengers, she doesn’t exploit them, even when it would be extremely easy to. Natasha, despite the betrayal she’s faced, still manages to trust. It swings both ways as well: you can definitely trust Natasha. Obviously, she’s an extremely valuable asset. Whether you’re in a fight or a verbal debate, you need Black Widow, no questions asked.

2. Natasha is human.

While Natasha is incredibly strong and can kill a man with just her legs, we also see her with moments of vulnerability. Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier is where we get to see this the most. She’s sad at the news of Nick Fury’s death. She also gets shot, and we see her vulnerable and in pain, gritting her teeth to get through it. We also see her tease Steve Rogers about his relationship status, taking on a more playful role than serious.

While Natasha is strong, she is not infallible. She’s a great example of a well-written female character that I can get behind. And one that definitely deserves--and can carry the weight of--her own movie.

3. Black Widow has a fabled and storied past.

In the comics, Black Widow’s back story is immense. She was an orphan brainwashed by the U.S.S.R., at the “Red Room” facility. (The “Red Room” is currently being explored in Agent Carter.) She has been all over the world. She has encountered Wolverine, Daredevil, and the Winter Soldier. She has been used, hurt, and yet has managed to rise again. She is resilient.

If the powers-that-be at Marvel don’t dip into this, it’s their loss.


4. Scarlett Johansson deserves it.

Scarlett Johansson is an incredibly talented actor. She has already proven that she can carry her own film, by starring in the movie Lucy. She’s also given a lot to Marvel. The athletic training required for the existing Marvel movies, as well as the time invested in the character, are two examples of this. If a Black Widow movie is not made, it’s a disservice to Scarlett Johansson’s acting abilities, as well as the work she’s put into portraying Natasha Romanoff.

5. Girls need heroes to look up to.

While I love Iron Man as much as the next girl, it’s empowering to see female superheroes. And we need more of them. There have been concerns that a movie about a female won’t sell as well as the ones about males. But I would like to strongly disagree. The superhero and action genres are not just the boys’ realm anymore. The large amount of female Marvel fans proves that. It’s about time that the Marvel fangirls among us started seeing themselves represented on the screen.

Don’t get me wrong--I’m incredibly grateful for news of the Captain Marvel film. But I feel that there should be as many female superhero movies as possible. It shouldn’t be an “either or” situation. Why make it either Captain Marvel or Black Widow when you could have both? 

There are so many reasons to make a Black Widow movie, and if one doesn’t happen, I’ll be extremely disappointed. Natasha Romanoff is such a solid character with a rich history, and it’s clear that she deserves a chance to tell her stories.

Dear Marvel, it’s time we had more females on the screen. Black Widow is one of the original Avengers and she’s an amazing character. To not give her a movie would be disappointing, and it would be downright wrong.

Marvel, Natasha Romanoff deserves a movie. Make it happen.

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