Despite the end of Phase Three and the losses suffered in Avengers: Endgame, The Marvel Cinematic Universe is showing no signs of slowing down. The behemoth studio revealed its plans for Phase Four at San Diego Comic-Con, although a few more dates are still to be announced. Cate Shortland will kickstart the next slate of movies with Black Widow, finally allowing Scarlett Johansson's OG Avenger to get the spotlight she deserves.
The starring cast and release of Black Widow was announced at San Diego Comic-Con, with Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz taking the stage at Hall H. Afterward they fielded questions from various news outlets, where Weisz was asked about the mysterious villain Taskmaster. The Favourite actress sidestepped a question regarding if she is in fact the Taskmaster, and then teased the characters' role in the upcoming prequel, saying:
I would say of some significance.
Rachel Weisz might be new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but she's already great at guarding its secrets. Stars of Marvel movies have to keep information under lock and key, as spoilers have the potential to ruin each new release's biggest plot twists. But Taskmaster is going to have a major role in Black Widow, that much is sure.
Rachel Weisz's comments to Variety make a great deal of sense for those who have been following Black Widow's big announcements. While not much about the prequel's contents have been revealed, the first piece of concept art was shown. And it features Scarlett Johansson's signature Marvel hero going to toe to with Taskmaster. It looks like Captain America wasn't Black Widow's first time dealing with a shielded vigilante.
As a reminder, you can check out the concept art featuring Taskmaster below:
Pretty cool, right? Black Widow is going to have her hands full fighting this new villain, especially as she doesn't have the support of The Avengers or S.H.I.E.L.D. behind her. Then again, Natasha has mentioned how hardcore her upbringing and original training were, so she's going to have plenty of deadly tricks up her sleeve.
Black Widow's timing couldn't be better, as the beloved character recently perished in Avengers: Endgame. She sacrificed herself during the film's epic Time Heist, so the Avengers could procure the Soul Stone and bring the dusted back to life. It was one of the most emotional scenes in the movie, although fans are happy to know we'll get to see Natasha in another Marvel movie, and soon.
Related: Scarlett Johansson Sidesteps Question About Hawkeye In The Black Widow Movie
When Natasha died, it seemed like her mysterious past died with her. But that will change with Black Widow, as moviegoers finally learn about her sordid past, and eventual journey into the light. And she's got a killer cast to help support her, as Rachel Weisz and David Harbour's starpower have both grown significantly in the past few years.
Black Widow will arrive in theaters on May 1st, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
