Show summary Hide summary
Scrap your bingo cards, superhero fans—this twist, no one saw coming! After a decade loyal to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as everyone’s favorite shadowy spy, Scarlett Johansson may be about to join Gotham’s darkest team. The Black Widow’s cape? Not quite, but if the rumor mill has it right, Johansson could be swapping Marvel red for DC noir in the highly-anticipated The Batman II. Whiplash guaranteed!
Back in the Cape: Johansson’s Heroic Switch-Up
It’s official: Scarlett Johansson, household name for her ten-year run as Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow), is in talks to join The Batman II. That’s right—one of the MCU’s legends is eyeing a supercharged return, but this time in the universe of Batarangs and brooding billionaires. Warner Bros. is in discussions to bring Johansson onto the project featuring Robert Pattinson back in the cowl, with Matt Reeves directing the sequel to his 2022 smash hit.
And the internet? Already losing its collective mind. At this point, the only thing more mysterious than Johansson’s rumored DC role is how Gotham keeps hiring so many vigilantes without HR catching on. However, details of her potential character remain tightly under wraps. The only fact as solid as the Batmobile: if talks succeed, Batman II will mark Scarlett Johansson’s first return to the superhero movie genre since her Marvel swan song.
UrbanStems CEO Meenakshi Lala’s shopping picks: handbags, Quince basics and unexpected florals
Best low-cost US airlines: 5 top picks after Spirit Airlines shutdown
A Decade as Black Widow: Curtain Call or Just an Intermission?
Johansson’s Marvel tenure was nothing short of legendary. She burst onto the MCU stage in Iron Man 2 (2010), reprising the role in a string of box-office juggernauts:
- Avengers (2012)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In Endgame, her character met a tragic yet heroic end, sacrificing herself on Vormir to secure the Soul Stone—and yes, audience tears may have outnumbered cinema snacks that night. She returned once more for Black Widow (2021), a prequel that also welcomed Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. That was, supposedly, her last superhero hurrah—until Gotham’s bat-signal reappeared on the horizon.
The Batman II: What’s Coming to Gotham?
Set to begin filming in spring 2026, The Batman Part II won’t hit theaters until September 29, 2027—a full five years after Matt Reeves rebooted the dark knight franchise. That first film, starring Robert Pattinson as a moody, determined Bruce Wayne, hauled in a whopping $772.2 million worldwide. Reeves is teaming up with Mattson Tomlin to co-write the sequel’s screenplay, so expect intrigue and shadows galore.
But fans, take note: not all familiar faces will return. Variety reports that Zoë Kravitz, who lit up the screen as Selina Kyle (Catwoman), will be absent from this follow-up. It makes sense considering the end of The Batman, where Selina left Gotham for Blüdhaven. Gotham’s loss—perhaps Blüdhaven’s gain?
Johansson’s Blockbuster Year – and What’s Next
Don’t think Johansson has just been lounging in the superhero afterlife. In 2025, she starred in Jurassic World: Renaissance, one of the year’s box office titans with $868.9 million worldwide, putting it in a solid fourth for the year. When she’s not facing down dinosaurs or contemplating a return to the comic-book cosmos, Johansson is juggling an impressive slate of upcoming projects:
- The new Exorcist directed by Mike Flanagan
- Paper Tiger from James Gray, co-starring Adam Driver
- Her directorial debut Eleanor The Great (now in cinemas)
Eleanor The Great tells the poignant tale of Eleanor Morgenstein, a 94-year-old midwife who, in the wake of her best friend’s passing, swaps Florida for New York in hopes of reconnecting with family. Mistakenly joining a group of Holocaust survivors, Eleanor hides her truth, forging an unexpected bond with a searching young student, launching both into a whirlwind of emotional and moral consequences.
So, what can we say? Whether she’s infiltrating Hydra, braving the jungles of Isla Nublar, or potentially sparring with Gotham’s criminal underworld, Scarlett Johansson proves she’s a superstar who never stays in one universe for long. The only question left is: will this leap from Marvel to DC deliver Gotham’s next scene-stealer? Stay tuned—and maybe start brushing up on your Batman trivia. You never know who’ll pop up in the Batcave next!
