UPDATED: Johansson on board as Black Widow, Rourke's in IRON MAN 2 but it's cost Raimi his Morbius?
UPDATED: E! Entertainment have confirmed a February 14th scoop that Scarlett Johansson will play Black Widow, the soviet spy who has a good side in IRON MAN 2. The role firmly sets her up for future movies, including THE AVENGERS in 2012. Nikki Finke claims Johansson screen-tested for the role at the beginning of the year but lost out to Emily Blunt, but now Blunt is travelling with Jack Black's Gulliver, they went back to her and offered Johansson the part. Physically she's not right, her acting style only suits love triangle drama's from what I've seen... it's kinda like asking Marilyn Monroe to play TOMB RAIDER. Blunt was just right for the role... Johansson may be out of her depth here. When an actress like Eliza Dushku lobbied so hard for the role, I think Favreau dropped the ball on this one. A further update, Variety adds that Rourke will be playing both Whiplash and Crymson Dynamo, some kind of mixing of two villains. END OF UPDATE... "A significant" higher offer from Marvel than the $250,000 that was originally put on the table has secured the signature of Mickey Rourke for IRON MAN 2 according to Nikki Finke.