Rumors that Florence Pugh might be set to return as Yelena Belova for a cameo in Spider-Man: Brand New Day had been circulating for quite some time before the film's release, and Kevin Feige all but confirmed the Thunderbolts* star's involvement during a recent interview.
Initial reports suggested that Pugh's scene would be "comedic" in nature, and a more recent rumor claimed that the sequence would feature Yelena and Spidey "seeing each other naked."
This always seemed highly unlikely, and while the scene in question does feature both actors showing some skin, it could hardly be described as "NSFW."
If you haven't seen the movie yet, spoilers follow.
In BND, it's revealed that Spidey and Belova have established a working relationship, with the new Black Widow feeding the young hero information from her "office" (a bathhouse). While sitting in the tub, Yelena tells Parker that he needs to strip down to ensure that he hasn't been "bugged," and finds it very amusing when he keeps his mask on.
Belova shows up again towards the end of the movie for another brief scene.
Pugh hasn't directly commented on her Brand New Day role yet, but she did share the following image on her Instagram.
A fifth Tom Holland Spider-Man movie has yet to be officially announced, but we'd be very surprised if Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios weren't already making moves on that front. Rumor has it that tentative plans are in place for a new trilogy, but again, nothing has been confirmed.
Following the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day begins a brand new chapter for Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home, and Peter is now an adult and living alone after erasing himself and the memories of him from those he loves. In a New York that no longer knows his name, he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to protecting his city as Spider-Man full-time.
But as the demands on him grow, he is put under increasing pressure. This triggers an unexpected physical change that threatens his existence, while a strange wave of crime emerges - and gives rise to one of the most dangerous threats he has ever faced.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers. The film is produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad and Rachel O'Connor. The cast includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now in theaters.