Actress Scarlett Johansson, known for her compelling performances, has garnered two Academy Award nominations throughout her career. Yet, she remains puzzled as to why Avengers: Endgame, in which she portrayed the iconic Black Widow, only received a single nomination for visual effects at the Oscars.
In a candid conversation with Vanity Fair, Johansson expressed her bewilderment, stating, "How did this film not get nominated for an Oscar? 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." Her sentiments reflect the film's monumental success and its critical acclaim within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Despite Avengers: Endgame being hailed as one of the finest entries in the MCU, the Academy has historically been reluctant to award superhero films in major categories such as acting and directing. The only Marvel film to break this trend so far is Black Panther from 2018. Johansson's portrayal of Natasha Romanoff, from her debut in Iron Man 2 in 2010 to her poignant end in Endgame, was undoubtedly a standout performance worthy of recognition.
However, Johansson also shared with Vanity Fair her doubts about returning to the MCU. She remarked, "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 emphasized the completeness of her character's arc, saying, "I miss my buddies and really would love to be with them forever, but 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 demise in Endgame, Johansson reprised her role as Natasha Romanoff in the 2021 prequel film Black Widow, which she also executive produced. This film allowed fans to delve deeper into the character's backstory and provided a fitting tribute to her journey within the MCU.
