If Chris Evans Is Back, Then Why Is Avengers: Doomsday Missing A Core MCU Hero?

Marvel has started the Avengers: Doomsday build-up in earnest by releasing new teasers each week, and the first of these revealed that Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, will return for the movie. With the second Doomsday teaser showing Thor, fans were assured that three of Marvel's biggest stars, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Chris Hemsworth will be back.

While fans are sure to be excited to see the three men who helped kick off the MCU back in the mix, it's hard to ignore that something is off. There's a very important figure in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who appears to be left out of all the Doomsday fun. Somehow, Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, will not return in Avengers: Doomsday.

Black Widow Is Missing From Marvel's Multiversal Event

Before Chris Evans put on the stars and stripes, and before Chris Hemsworth picked up the hammer, Scarlett Johansson made her debut as Black Widow in Iron Man 2. Her appearance is the first clue about what the Avengers would look like just two years later, and Johansson would go on to play the character across 8 MCU movies, ending her run with Black Widow.

While the reason for Black Widow not being in Avengers: Doomsday may seem obvious — she died in Avengers: Endgame — it isn't that simple. Doomsday is a story about the MCU multiverse. Audiences will see the prime MCU universe meet characters from Fox's X-Men universe and the newly established Fantastic Four universe. And chances are there will be some surprises from other universes thrown in for good measure.

And it's pretty obvious that Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom is coming from a different universe as well. All of this begs the question: why isn't there a Black Widow from another reality? Or, why can't Johansson pull an RDJ and play a different character who happens to look just like Black Widow?

Leaving Johansson out robs Doomsday of some great drama. A chance to see the heroes of Earth-616, especially Yelena Belova, have one more chance to talk to their friend and sister would almost surely get audiences crying. Or, if Black Widow were to return but be evil like Doom? That's the kind of comic book stories everyone loves.

However they would choose to do it, there's no good reason, at least for the story, that Scarlett Johansson should not return for Doomsday. But the issue may be something that no script can fix.

Why Could Black Widow Be Missing From Doomsday?

Scarlett Johansson's last appearance as Black Widow didn't have a happy ending for the actor. The character's solo film was released during the COVID-19 pandemic when most theaters were still closed. To combat this, and to try and get more people to sign up for Disney+, Black Widow was put on the streaming service day and date with theatrical (with an added rental fee).

Scarlett Johansson sued Disney over this decision, claiming that putting Black Widow on Disney+ and in theaters at the same time was a breach of contract that allowed Disney to skirt around having to pay any bonuses that Johansson would have been eligible for if the movie did better at the box office.

The suit was settled, with Johansson being paid an undisclosed sum. And while the actor and Disney made nice for the cameras, it's hard to ignore that Johansson hasn't worked with Disney since (while she is credited as a producer on Thunderbolts* Johansson has said she had no involvement with the movie).

It may be that Johansson is persona non grata at the House of Mouse these days, or that she doesn't want to go back to a studio that she had to sue to get what was rightfully owed her. Or, there could be another reason Scarlett Johansson hasn't been announced for Avengers: Doomsday.

Maybe Natasha Romanoff Will Return In Avengers: Doomsday?

It would be foolish to believe that Marvel is revealing everyone who will appear in Avengers: Doomsday. The studio knows how important big surprises can be, and while things are sure to leak out sooner or later, they will hold back as much as they can for as long as they can.

It's entirely possible that Scarlett Johansson will be back as Black Widow or as another character in Doomsday, and everyone is just keeping it under wraps for now. It's also possible that Johansson will return for Avengers: Secret Wars. After all, Marvel doesn't want to give fans the full meal in the first of a two-movie event.

As it stands, it seems like Marvel is holding back on a few big characters. Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, and everyone from Guardians of the Galaxy appear to be sitting this one out, but it's likely they will show up for Secret Wars. And the same may happen with Scarlett Johansson. At least, if Marvel is thinking things through.

She may not be the most powerful Avenger, but Black Widow played a major role in the success of the MCU, and her sacrifice in Endgame was as impactful as Iron Man's. If Doomsday and Secret Wars are a chance to see these characters one last time, it would be a massive disservice to the fans and the history of the MCU to leave Johansson out.