Marvel Studios' Black Widow movie was a long time coming, but it ended up falling in an odd place both in-universe and the real world. Following Natasha Romanoff's death in Avengers: Endgame, the decision was made to set her solo adventure between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.
Outside of the MCU, Black Widow arrived in theaters at a time when they were largely closed due to the pandemic. The movie was released simultaneously in multiplexes and on Disney+'s short-lived "Premier Access" service, prompting Scarlett Johansson to sue Disney for lost earnings.
Overall, the movie was a fun experience and introduced several new characters. Among them was Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, a Black Widow who looks set to take her sister's place in the MCU if Hawkeye and the upcoming Thunderbolts are anything to go by.
However, according to Deadline's Justin Kroll, Marvel Studios was eyeing Pugh's Little Women co-star and four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan for the role.
"The Saoirse thing, I’ve heard stuff she’s passed on. She passed on Florence’s role in 'Black Widow,' the sister," he revealed on The Town podcast. "Marvel has not been her cup of tea, and she was not interested."
This wouldn't be the first time she's turned down a Marvel role, however, as Ronan was also once courted to play the Scarlet Witch in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Before Elizabeth Olsen was cast, the actress even said she'd "love to be" in the next Avengers movie so we're not sure what changed.
It's hard to imagine anyone else playing Yelena now we've seen Pugh in the role, though Ronan would have been an undeniably impressive addition to the MCU.
Last August, Red Guardian actor David Harbour - who will reprise the role in What If...? season 3 and Thunderbolts - reflected on what was a pretty chaotic production with Black Widow.
"I think they did want the opportunity to change some stuff. The interesting thing about Marvel that’s so great about them is they do rework stuff. Even big productions. Like 'Black Widow,' the entire third act was reworked as we were shooting, which is incredible. And so, they just want that freedom."
"The script we have is really tight and really great. And our director, Jake [Schreier], thinks it’s great. But they just want the freedom. They don’t want to be stuck in the middle of a shoot and then having to go like, 'We can’t rewrite this.'"
Black Widow is now streaming on Disney+.