Scarlett Johansson is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. The Oscar-nominated actress has been making waves in Hollywood since childhood, with roles in films like Home Alone 3 and The Horse Whisperer. Johansson has had a successful career thanks to her talent, but she has also had to deal with her fair share of rejection.
Johansson was originally turned down for a role alongside Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 2, but after hearing her story, director Jon Favreau eventually cast her in the film.
The Search for Black Widow
Many actresses were considered for the role of Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Emily Blunt was considered for the role due to her previous collaboration with director Jon Favreau on Gulliver’s Travels. Blunt was offered the part of Natasha Romanoff, but she declined due to scheduling conflicts.
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This put a lot of pressure on Favreau and the other producers. There was an urgent need to cast a new actress as Black Widow. That’s when Scarlett Johansson came into play.
The actress told Favreau during their meeting that she had always wanted to play Black Widow. Johansson said the meeting was productive, and she looked forward to collaborating with Favreau.
While Scarlett Johansson left the meeting with a positive impression, she knew she was not the studio’s top pick for the part. She was used to this, as she had been turned down many times in her career. The actress wasn’t quite ready to give up hope, though.
Reportedly, Johansson told Favreau she was “an actor for hire” and that he could call her anytime
“If this doesn’t work out, I’m an actor for hire, so call me anytime.”
Johansson took a risk by doing this, as it is not often that actors will make such an open request for a role. However, it turned out to be a wise choice.
Scarlet Johansson Took Her Black Widow Role Seriously
The producers of Iron Man 2 and Favreau began looking into other actresses for the role of Black Widow after Blunt had to drop out. However, they remembered Johansson and extended an offer to her.
While Scarlett Johansson was ecstatic to have landed the role, she was realistic about the challenges ahead. The Lucy actress understood that she would have to put in a lot of effort if she wanted to do justice to the multifaceted character of Black Widow.
Johansson’s perseverance paid off in the end. Her portrayal of Black Widow has become iconic in the MCU. She reprised the role in multiple films, including The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Avengers: Endgame.
Scarlett Johansson’s perseverance in the face of criticism exemplifies her path to playing Black Widow. Despite the many failures and disappointments the actress has experienced in her career, she has always managed to get back up and keep going.
Johansson has built a successful career for herself despite persistent rejection for roles. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world and has been nominated for two Academy Awards.
Source: Parade
