Actress Scarlett Johansson, who has earned two Academy Award nominations throughout her career, expressed her confusion and disappointment over the limited Oscar recognition for Avengers: Endgame, in which she portrayed Black Widow. Despite the film's monumental success and its status as one of the highest-grossing movies ever, it only secured a single nomination for visual effects. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Johansson questioned the Academy's oversight, saying, “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.”
Avengers: Endgame is widely regarded as one of the finest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in recent years. However, the Academy has historically been reluctant to award top honors, such as those for acting and directing, to superhero films. The only Marvel movie to receive such recognition to date is 2018's Black Panther. Johansson's performance as Natasha Romanoff, from her debut in 2010's Iron Man to her poignant sacrifice in Endgame, was considered by many to be worthy of awards consideration.
Despite her strong connection to the character, Johansson also shared with Vanity Fair that she is unlikely to return to the MCU. She explained, “It would be very hard for me to understand in what capacity [returning] would make sense for me, for the character that I play.” Johansson emphasized the importance of respecting the completeness of Natasha Romanoff's story arc, stating, “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.”
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Following Black Widow's death in Endgame, Johansson did reprise her role as Romanoff one last time in the 2021 prequel film Black Widow, which she also executive produced. This allowed fans to explore more of Natasha's backstory and provided a fitting farewell to the beloved character.
