Ahead of the highly-anticipated release of Avengers: Endgame in just a couple weeks, the surviving Infinity War cast members have been taking part in just about the strangest press tour ever. While usually the actors can answer questions with a bit of insight into what fans can expect from the release, this time they are sworn to secrecy - so much so that many of the stars have admitted to not knowing how the movie ends for their characters themselves.
Being constantly on their guard about what they can and can’t say has understandably taken a toll on the actors. Scarlett Johansson even recently admitted she’s losing sleep over it. In her words:
I’m gonna have PTSD from this [press tour.] I mean, honestly, it is so stressful. At the end of every day, I lie awake at night and I think about all the things I almost said. It gives me panic.
It looks like all the dodging and beating around the bush has the Black Widow actress stressed! It’s a tough situation she and the cast have been tasked with. Journalists certainly feel like it’s their duty to get any scoop they can about the upcoming MCU culmination too, but the cast has been heavily briefed to not give anything away until Endgame hits theaters.
While the actress is likely exaggerating a bit about actually having post-traumatic stress disorder, since the condition affected people who have experienced incidents much more serious than a press tour, she seems to simply mean that doing press for the movie has become something that’s affected her mental health.
She has to constantly use her words carefully in front of cameras and later think back about what she said, in hopes she didn’t spoil anything. It does sound anxiety-inducing! You’re almost at the finish line, ScarJo!
To make matters worse, she has her solo Black Widow movie on the way and she’s also been asked about time and time again. However, Marvel is asking that she keep the details under wraps until Phase Three concludes. Here’s a bit of an exchange from Entertainment Weekly’s roundtable with the Original Six Avengers and Kevin Feige when asked about Black Widow:
Robert Downey Jr: Kevin, can she talk about the film that’s been announced — or not even?Kevin Feige: We haven’t announced anything. We’ve announced Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home.Scarlett Johansson: [Draws deep breath] The PTSD is a real thing! I have so much anxiety!
Robert Downey Jr. makes a great sarcastic point to Marvel chief Kevin Feige that there’s already news out there about Black Widow but he’s sticking to keeping it quiet. It’s okay, Scarlett! The headlines will speak for you.
The film directed by Cate Shortland has assembled an impressive cast including Stranger Things’ David Harbour and Fighting With My Family’s Florence Pugh, and Rachel Weisz is also in talks to join. Harbour even recently revealed the movie may start shooting in June, which would shape up the movie to likely be one of Phase Four’s first entries. There’s lot of other exciting casting starting to shape up for the next MCU chapter for The Eternals as well.
Just two more weeks until Avengers: Endgame, Scarlett Johansson can soon exhale a sigh of relief, and so can fans!
