Having started as a child star, Scarlett Johansson has given several acclaimed performances in a range of genres, from drama and rom-coms to action-packed ventures like The Avengers and Lucy. However, one pivotal rejection nearly derailed her versatile career.
The MCU star was left questioning her path in the competitive world of acting after her most popular role as Black Widow was initially offered to Emily Blunt along with facing the rejection for the Oscar-winning film, Gravity.
The Rejections that Left Scarlett Johansson Questioning Her Potential
Scarlett Johansson has been one of the most acclaimed and highly celebrated actresses. Initially receiving widespread recognition for her performance in Sophia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, the actress soon found herself trapped in a cycle of typecasting of “hyper-s*xualized” roles.
Johansson opened up about her struggles to break free from the narrative during The Hollywood Reporter’s Actress Roundtable discussion.
It was really difficult for me to try to figure out how to get out of being an ingenue or the other woman because it was never anything that I had intended.
She also opened up about the struggles of leaving behind the image that was being put forth due to the type of characters she was offered in the movies. “It was hard to get out of that pigeonhole,” she told Variety in an interview.
Though she continued her efforts to diversify her roles, she felt lost after facing rejections for two major films, Iron Man 2 and Gravity. Johansson shared that she was left questioning her career as an actress after facing these two rejections.
Reflecting on the pivotal moments, she told Variety,
I had wanted that role (Gravity) so much. It was sort of the straw that broke the camel’s back. I felt really frustrated and hopeless. Like, ‘Am I doing the right job?’ The work I was being offered felt deeply unfulfilling — I was like, ‘Is this the end of the road creatively?’
While the role of Black Widow in Iron Man 2 was offered to Emily Blunt, Gravity went to Sandra Bullock, who eventually earned an Oscar nomination for her performance. However, fate worked out in her favor as Blunt had to drop out from the Marvel role.
Emily Blunt’s Exit From Iron Man 2 Paved the Way for Scarlett Johansson’s Iconic Role
Though she was feeling discouraged and lost after facing rejection from major projects like Iron Man 2 and Gravity, things worked out in Scarlett Johansson’s favor after Emily Blunt had to drop out of the Marvel role due to her contractual obligation.
Blunt, who was considered for the role of Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, in the Iron Man sequel, could not take the offer due to her previous commitment to the 2010 fantasy adventure film Gulliver’s Travels.
Blunt backing out of the movie opened the door for Johansson, who soon signed a multi-movie deal with the studio. Her MCU debut in Iron Man 2 marked the beginning of a long-running role that saw her reprise Black Widow in multiple films, including The Avengers and Captain America, culminating in her standalone Black Widow movie.
Shortly after Iron Man 2, she landed the role of Catherine in Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge, an opportunity that she described felt “creatively and artistically” fulfilling. Johansson continued to make bold choices, taking on roles in films like Under the Skin and Her, which reignited her passion for acting and pushed her career in exciting new directions.
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