Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige denied the rumors that the Black Widow solo film would have an R-rating.
Feige spoke with ComicBook.com and confirmed the movie would not have a R-Rating saying, “Yes. Correct.”
He elaborates, “It never was going to be. Somebody writes, ‘I hear it’s R-rated!’ And then everybody writes it up.”
Scarlett Johansson will reprise her role in the film which is rumored to be a period piece taking place in the past specifically 15 years after the fall of the Soviet Union. Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier is supposed to feature in the cameo.
Johannsson described what she wanted to see in a Black Widow solo film while promoting Avengers: Infinity War last year:
“I love playing this character and I think there’s definitely an opportunity to explore the Widow as a woman who has kind of come into her own and is making independent and active choices for herself probably for once in her life. She hasn’t always had that possibility. If it fit that criteria then, yes, I would want to do it.”
The movie will be directed Cate Shortland and Marvel Studios reportedly interviewed over 70 candidates for the job before deciding on Shortland. Marvel Studios put a focus on finding a female director according to The Hollywood Reporter and spent over half a year looking at directors before selecting Shortland.
Shortland was originally to direct off a script from Jac Schaeffer, but a recent report from Collider indicates Marvel Studios has brought in Ned Benson to rewrite it.
The film was rumored to go into production later this month, but a new listing on Film Magazine Production Weekly indicates it won’t begin until June in the United Kingdom. That would make sense given the report that Benson was brought into rewrite the script.
Johansson will reportedly be making a huge payday for the solo film. She is expected to earn $25 million.
While Marvel hasn’t officially announced a release date, expectations are the film will debut sometime in 2020.
What do you make of Black Widow not being R-rated? Does that surprise you?