We recently learned that Scarlett Johansson's next Marvel Studios project, which she'll produce rather than star in, could be The Blonde Phantom.
Now, thanks to scooper Daniel Richtman, we have a few additional details, including the fact this role is one of the characters singer Taylor Swift discussed with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige during their recent meeting.
As we're sure you'll recall, it's been widely reported that Swift - who counts 14 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, 40 American Music Awards, 39 Billboard Music Awards, and 23 MTV Video Music Awards among her many accolades - had a "good" conversation with Feige about joining the MCU. We didn't expect Blonde Phantom to be on the list but she clearly stands out to both Johansson and Swift.
Richtman adds that this would be a spy show which takes place in Las Vegas in the 1950s.
A lesser-known character from Marvel Comics' Golden Age, The Blonde Phantom first appeared in 1946's All Select Comics #11. Created by Stan Lee and artist Syd Shores, she was originally the secretary for private detective Mark Mason.
However, she admired Mason and decided to fight crime alongside him in secret, adopting the costumed identity of the Blonde Phantom. Wearing a glamorous red evening gown with a slit for mobility, a black domino mask, and high heels, she was a superhero unlike any other and very much a product of the time.
Although she didn't have superpowers, Blonde Phantom was athletic, skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and an excellent markswoman. She relied on her physical prowess and investigative skills to solve crimes, and battled various criminals and gangsters, often saving her boss Mason, who was unaware of her dual identity.
Despite fading into obscurity in the years following her debut, Blonde Phantom returned in The Sensational She-Hulk in the late 1980s, revealing she'd married Mark and grown old in real-time. As Jennifer Walters' legal secretary, she'd often reminisce about her past as the Blonde Phantom.
Should the project become a reality on Disney+ (or perhaps in theaters as it continues taking shape), then we'd the period piece will be largely separate from the rest of the MCU. However, with Johansson involved, we can't help but wonder whether it will link to Black Widow, even if it's only loosely.
A powerful female story like this is bound to appeal to Swift and while a Deadpool & Wolverine cameo could still happen (Dazzler would be a far cry from Blonde Phantom, to be fair), it may be a good idea to temper expectations on that front.
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