Two names were missing from the Marvel Phase 3 announcements and those names were Black Widow and The Hulk. When fans were wondering if there would be a Marvel standalone film with a female lead, the first name to pop into most movie fan’s minds was Black Widow.
Scarlet Johansson is a proven commodity and an espionage film with Black Widow could be very cool. However, it won’t happen, although there will be a female led Marvel film coming with the character of Captain Marvel. So, what does this mean for Black Widow in Marvel Phase 3?
Kevin Feige Via /Film:
Well, frankly, as I said in the presentation, it’s about bringing new characters to the screen. Black Widow couldn’t be more important as an Avenger, herself. Like Hulk, the Avengers films will be the films where they play a primary role. Her part in Avengers: Age of Ultron is very very big, and further develops and further enhances her character. The plans that we have for her throughout the rest of the Avengers saga is very very big, and lynchpin, in fact, to those films. So instead of taking her out there, or instead of doing a prequel, which we haven’t done yet, continuing the forward momentum and the continuity of the cinematic universe. Of which Widow is a key, key part.
So, Black Widow is an important part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and will likely appear in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War and The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. But, she won’t get her own film and it sounds like no prequels are coming soon either for any other character.
So, what about Hulk, one of the most popular characters from the first Avengers movie? Same answer, with a little more hope.
Well, I wouldn’t say he’s absent from the timeline, I’d say Hulk is going to appear in many of those movies, particularly all those Avengers movies leading up to 2019 and Infinity War. Mark Ruffalo is on board for all those films, and we’re excited to bring him to those films. What happens with a standalone Hulk film? I’ll only say what I would have said about Black Panther last week or Captain Marvel the week before that, or Doctor Strange the week before that, or Guardians of the Galaxy two years ago, or Ant-Man ten years ago: we’ll see. We’d love to do it, we’d love to find the place to put it, but right now, Hulk will be appearing, with his friends, in their films.
So, where Black Widow won’t get her own film, Hulk might one day find his way to the big screen in his own outing again. Marvel and Feige have already said that Planet Hulk won’t happen, which might be wise. But, World War Hulk might be a very amazing movie, especially after a ton more characters are introduced over the years.
It is awesome that Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain Marvel and The Inhumans are appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while we won’t see Black Widow or Hulk get their own solo adventures anytime soon, at least they won’t be going anywhere.