If you're a fan of Avengers: Endgame, you might already know that it didn’t receive as many Oscar nominations as its massive success deserved. During a recent interview with Vanity Fair, actress Scarlett Johansson expressed her bewilderment over the film’s single nomination for visual effects. “It was an impossible movie that should not have worked, that really works as a film—and also, it’s one of the most successful films of all time,” she mused.
While Avengers: Endgame is widely regarded as one of the MCU’s standout entries, the Academy Awards have historically been reluctant to honor superhero movies, even when they redefine box office records. The only Marvel film to date to earn a major nomination is 2018’s Black Panther. Still, Johansson’s portrayal of Black Widow from her debut in Iron Man to her poignant farewell in Endgame was nothing short of award-worthy.
Despite the character's impact, Johansson admitted that returning to the MCU might not make sense for her moving forward. “It would be very hard for me to understand in what capacity returning would make sense for me, for the character that I play,” she shared. While she cherishes her friendships with the cast, she feels that Natasha Romanoff’s story has reached its natural conclusion. “What works about the character is that her story is complete. I don’t want to mess with that. For fans, too—it’s important for them.”
Following Black Widow’s sacrifice in Endgame, Johansson reprised her role in the standalone film Black Widow (2021), which she also co-produced. Though her journey in the MCU has concluded, her impact will undoubtedly continue to resonate with fans worldwide.
