MCU: 10 Reasons Why Phase 4 Has Failed
6. The Black Widow Movie Came Too Late
After a supporting role in Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow soon became a fan favorite and central figure in the Avengers. The character came into her own in Avengers: Endgame, making the ultimate sacrifice to help bring about Thanos' defeat. Widow's noble end capped her character arc, turning her from a mercenary into a true hero.
Bafflingly, Marvel decided that post-Endgame was the right time to finally give Black Widow a solo movie. While the film itself was a solid thrill ride that introduced entertaining new characters, it couldn't help but feel too late. Black Widow added few new layers to the character while also highlighting the fact it took Marvel too long to give its most popular female cast member a solo adventure.
Adding to these concerns, COVID-19 hampered Black Widow's box office. The film was released in theatres and on Disney+ concurrently, hurting its tally. On top of this, Disney and Scarjo entered into a well-publicized tiff over the film's hybrid release. What should have been a triumphant moment for Black Widow fans, morphed into a fiasco that started Phase 4 off on the wrong foot and set a bad tone for Marvel's latest crop.