MCU: 10 Fascinating Facts Behind Iron Man 2 (2010)

9. Scarlet Johansson Wasn't The First Black Widow

Emily Blunt has been linked to the MCU a few times with links to playing Peggy Carter and Captain Marvel (though that one was fabricated apparently). The closest she got was for Iron Man 2 and the role of Black Widow.

She had been set to take the part on but was forced to pull out thanks to scheduling conflicts on the god-awful Gulliver's Travels remake opposite Jack Black. Scarlet Johansson stepped in while Jessica Biel, Gemma Arterton, Natalie Portman, Jessica Alba, and Angelina Jolie were all also considered.

Johansson was reportedly so keen on the role that she dyed her hair red before she was even cast to show her willingness. She then trained for six weeks before filming started and then for the entire six months of shooting in her attempts to emulate femme fatales Nina Ivanovna Yakushova of Ninotchka (1939), and Anya Amasova of The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).