Scarlett Johansson’s character Black Widow was one of the important cogs that got the massive MCU wheel turning through different phases. From being an integral part of the Avengers films to playing the lead in her own standalone film, Johansson has embodied the story of Natasha Romanoff with aplomb.
Ironically, Black Widow threw up the biggest challenge for Johansson off-screen with her ugly showdown during the pandemic involving Disney+ over back-end compensations that gave the Match Point star a reputation for being obsessed with money. After a turbulent period that ultimately saw a reconciliation between Johansson and Disney+, the Vicky Christina Barcelona actor moved on to prove that she was willing to be part of worthwhile projects that did not necessarily involve hefty paydays.
Scarlett Johansson Plays A 1950s Icon In Asteroid City
After being at the receiving end of shocking accusations from streaming bigwig Disney+ regarding her monetary worth, Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson answered her critics in the best way by signing up for a modest salary of over 4000 dollars a week in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City. The film set in 1955, follows transformative events that occur at an annual Junior Stargazers Convention. Johansson will play the role of a yesteryear icon rumored to be based on Bette Davis. Wes Anderson was all praise for the Marvel star and said,
“Scarlett’s voice is so expressive and interesting. I would say it’s her greatest strength.”
The film which is said to incorporate some animation and live action elements, will also feature the crème de la crème of Hollywood including Tom Hanks, Bryan Crankston, Margot Robbie, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, and Adrien Brody to name a few.
Asteroid City Script Impressed Scarlett Johansson
Despite a short 2 months of work and a modest payday, Scarlett Johansson connected with the script of Asteroid City at a personal level. The Black Widow star expressed a deep appreciation for the writers and confessed that she talked for hours with Wes Anderson after he sent her the script of the film.
“I was curious: Who is this person? How did she get here, to be so successful at that time? She’s this star of stage and screen — what drove her there?”
Johansson applied these questions and analysis to her character, Midge Campbell who is a 50s star. This is a role that Anderson reportedly conceived for the Avengers actor. Johansson added that while Anderson was a very structured director who did not deviate from a final script, she was able to navigate around her character and improvise while working within the filmmaker’s template.
Asteroid City is due to premiere in Cannes in May 2023 and will release in theaters across the United States on June 16th, 2023.
Source: Variety
