Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The last 6 months hasn’t been a great period of success for the Marvel franchise. After facing disappointments at the box office in 2023 withAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, andSecret Invasion, the new year did nothing to improve its track record with the dismal opening ofMadame Web. But the franchise isn’t just facing criticisms regarding the work it has been putting out.
Few Marvel alums have also stirred the pot and echoed concerns about the working environment on the film set. Scarlett Johansson’sBlack Widowco-star Ray Winstone revealed some unpleasant experiences during filming that made him feel uncomfortable and unappreciated on set.
Thanks to EA, Your Star Wars Mandalorian Dreams Have to Wait, but Marvel’s Iron Man Flying Fantasies are Still on the Cards… for now
Ray Winstone Had a Forgettable Marvel Experience
In 2021, Scarlet Johansson starred inBlack Widow, a standaloneMarvelfilm that put her popular MCU character front and center in the narrative. She was joined by other stars like Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weiss, and Ray Winstone, who played the Russian villain General Dreykov.
Apart from the film being plagued with controversies involvingScarlett Johansson’scontract and salary, Winstone also had a bone to pick with Marvel and Kevin Feige. The actor revealed that the uncomfortable working environment on the sets ofBlack Widowresulted in a nightmarish experience for him.
Winstone spoke of the lack of consistency in opinions between various Marvel producers, which resulted in him doing multiple reshoots of the same scene. To add to his woes, the actor was made to feel that he was below par each time despite knowing that he had put in his best effort for each take.
In a tell-all interview withRadio Times,Winstone confessed that he was ready to call it quits and pass on the character to another actor. He elaborated on why this was not possible for him to do with Marvel.
“I actually said, ‘You ought to recast it because that was it for me.’ And you end up doing it again because you’re contracted to do it. Otherwise you end up in court. It’s like being kicked in the balls.”
While the British actor ultimately soldiered through and completed the film, the fact remains that Marvel has its problems piling up not just with regard to the quality of content, but also in maintaining relationships with the actors in the franchise.
“This could have been Marvel’s Batman but…”: Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight Was a Total Disaster to Some Critics But Here’s Why They are Wrong
Will Marvel Bring Back These Famous Avengers?
Judging by the way the last few months have panned out for Marvel Studios, the franchise will be aware that some damage control is necessary to regain its old glory. If rumors are to be believed, Kevin Feige and the team are reportedly attempting to bring back two of MCU’s biggest heroes, Captain America and Iron Man.
In many ways,Avengers: Endgamewas the end of an era with the culmination of many superhero arcs. Along with the emotional death of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Chris Evans’ Captain America handed over the reins to Anthony Mackie’s Falcon, leaving a deep void among Marvel fans.
Now, Kevin Feige and his team seem to have allegedly dangled a carrot in front of MCU buffs. According to unconfirmed reports, the upcomingAvengers: Secret Warswill see Iron Man, Black Widow, and Captain America as part of the larger narrative. The news, which was first broken by a Marvel insider onX, also indicates that Downey Jr., Johansson, and Evans will be replaced by a fresh set of actors.
While this information is still very nascent and speculative, it remains to be seen if hardcore MCU fans who have idolized the three superstars, will be able to accept other actors to play these roles that have become synonymous with Downey Jr., Evans, and Johansson.
Black Widowis streaming on Disney+
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
