This isn't really a surprise, but it is an indication of where Marvel plans to go once they're done with their current crop of superhero cross-promotion. While speaking at a press conference for the new Iron Man 2 DVD, Marvel chief Kevin Feige admitted that they're currently working on a spin-off film for Scarlett Johasson's Black Widow character. He noted, "We've already started discussions with Scarlett about the idea, but The Avengers comes first." Feige later added that they haven't done much else except begin to put concepts together.
Considering the fact that Johansson signed on for something insane like nine films, it was only a matter of time before we eventually got to her own solo film – which will be the first female-driven superhero film under the new Marvel regime. There's no word on whether the story would pick up from where The Avengers leaves off, or if they'll jump back in time and go the origin story route with the character, following her all the way up until she went undercover as Tony Stark's secretary in Iron Man 2.
Since the character has already been introduced in one film (soon to be two), it might be best for them to just continue her storyline following The Avengers and shovel out whatever backstory we'd get in an origin story through flashbacks or dialogue. Seeing as Marvel is working on this whole large, continuous, multi-layered story involving several characters, it makes sense for them to move forward instead of back.
What do you think? Does Black Widow deserve her own film? And which would you rather see: an origin story, or one that picks up after The Avengers?
