“Who Do You Want Me to Be?” Scarlett Johansson, Black Widow and Shifting Identity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Abstract

This chapter attends to Johansson’s place in popular cinema and mainstream screen culture. Davies explores Johansson’s role as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the first female superhero in this otherwise male-dominated franchise, Johansson’s character has a significant presence. Interrogating Johansson’s appearance in this role, Davies parallels Johansson’s career trajectory with Romanoff’s narrative journey across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He illustrates how both Johansson and Romanoff have been associated with the figure of the femme fatale but have actively shifted their identity to become action heroines. Analysing the impact of this shift with regard to Johansson’s star persona, Davies explores how Johansson converges the sexual allure of the femme fatale with the agency of the action star to redefine her stardom.