Blunt is out of IRON MAN 2... who will replace her?

By Matt Holmes / June 25, 2011

Jon Favreau has confirmed to E! (via The Playlist) that 20th Century Fox have used their pre-agreed option from THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA to nab actress Emily Blunt for one of the their tentpoles, casting her in GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, the upcoming adventure comedy starring Jack Black. So it's confirmed she is out as Black Widow, which really sucks because she was the perfect actress for the role but of course she can't be in two places at once. Filming on IRON MAN 2 will begin in just over two months so Favreau is likely to already be deep into the process of finding her replacement....

Now that Emily Blunt is out, who should play Emily Blunt in IRON MAN 2? ( polls) Scarlett Johansson was rumored a few weeks ago to replace Blunt. Her recent hair dye has also fuelled this speculation, though I can't help but feel she is no good for a superhero role. And imaging her doing a Russian accent is a dreadful worry. DOLLHOUSE actress Eliza Dushku has lobbyed for the part on Howard Stern and would be a really solid choice...

"Theyre doing Iron Man 2, and Im so perfect for the Black Widow character, that they just need to get into it. They need to understand I just learned Russian because I had to play a Russian girl in Dollhouse.

She's physically perfect, she can act, she has made a career out of playing heroic roles like this. And he role as Faith in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER is very close to Black Widow, where your not quite sure of her allegiance or convictions. Other choices that can't be ruled out... Rachel McAdams, who was No. 2 choice for Pepper Potts which Gwyneth Paltrow nabbed, though it would be her first real blockbuster. And she is a natural red head. If this movie were being made in 2000, it would have gone to X-MEN actress and former Bond girl Famke Janssen. No doubt, she is almost the live and breathing embodiment of Black Widow and has a whole filmography to prove it. She has deep eyes which you can find yourself lost in and almost has eyes which you can never trust. At 44, she is probably way too old, HOWEVER, she doesn't look her age and, well, they made a smart choice by casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. Maybe a more experienced actress is the way they will go. Rachel Nichols, though her role in G.I. JOE Is way too similar and would definitely confuse. She would have been my first choice had she not found herself in that film. Anne Hathaway, which would be interesting considering it's a deal going back to THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA which has blocked her co-star Emily Blunt from appearing in the film. Maybe she is a little skinny but GET SMART showed she ain't scared of populist fare. Olga Kurlyenko, she is actually from the USSR. Which helps. And her persona in QUANTUM OF SOLACE and HITMAN are very similar to Black Widow. Eva Green, the other Bond girl is also a possibility.