David Hayter (X-Men, Watchmen screenwriter) will make his directorial debut and write the Black Widow movie, according to Hollywood Reporter.
The Lions Gate film will be produced by Marvel Studios’ exec Avi Arad. Here’s how the trade describes the character: “The Black Widow, an early supporting character in the Marvel Comics universe, is also known by her other identity: Natasha Romanova, a Russian spy who made her debut in ‘The Invincible Iron Man.’ She also was part of the superteams assembled in ‘The Champions’ and ‘The Avengers’ comics series. She ultimately became a love interest of Daredevil, gaining her popularity in the ‘Daredevil’ comics.”
"I like that she crossed over into everybody else's comic books," Hayter told Hollywood Reporter. "She was the mysterious femme fatale in the story who did what was needed to be done and left." Hayter’s daughter was named after the character.
Hayter will write that the Black Widow was given to the KGB at birth. “When the U.S.S.R. breaks up, the government tries to kill her as the action moves to present-day New York, where she is a freelance operative,” the trade said.