Marvel's Newest Addition Faces Backlash: Florence Pugh Reveals Angry Reception

Florence Pugh faced backlash from some in the indie film world after she made the decision to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her debut in 2021's Black Widow as Yelena Belova was met with critical acclaim, and she subsequently appeared in Disney+'s Hawkeye series. Pugh is set to reprise her role in the upcoming Thunderbolts movie, slated for release on July 26, 2024. However, despite her success, Pugh revealed in an interview with TIME magazine that some were unhappy with her move to more commercial films. Many indie filmmakers were "really pissed off at" her, according to Pugh, believing that she would abandon indie movies after finding success in the MCU. Pugh refutes this, insisting that she is still working just as hard as she always has.

"I faced a lot of backlash from the indie film community when I landed a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Many believed that I had abandoned my roots and would never return. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. I continue to work just as hard as I always have, and my schedule is still packed with back-to-back film projects. The only difference is that now my work is being seen by a wider audience. It just requires a bit more organization and planning."

Scarlett Johansson recently made it clear that she has no plans to return to the role of Black Widow in the MCU. The actress stated that her time playing the character has come to an end and that her chapter in the MCU has closed. Natasha Romanoff, played by Johansson, was one of the major casualties in Avengers: Endgame, making her exit from the MCU a natural progression. Despite the introduction of the Multiverse Saga, which brings deceased characters back to life, Johansson's statement suggests that there is little chance of her returning, even in an alternate multiverse version of the character.

With no current character attached to the Black Widow mantle in the MCU, Yelena, Natasha's sister, is the most fitting candidate to take on the role and join the Avengers. Since the Endgame finale, Marvel has been exploring the legacy of the original six Avengers. Sam Wilson followed in Steve Rogers' footsteps as Captain America, Clint Barton trained Kate Bishop as the new Hawkeye, and Hulk did the same with She-Hulk. Thor was replaced by Jane Foster, and Ironheart's connection to Iron Man is expected to be explored soon. Yelena's inclusion as the next Black Widow would be a natural progression of this trend.

Before Natasha's death, she reconnected with her sister Yelena. Through her desire to honor Natasha's legacy, Yelena could choose to become the next Black Widow. Her journey to take on the mantle will begin with her serving as a member of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's black ops team, the Thunderbolts. There, she will encounter characters like Red Guardian and Taskmaster again, and interact with others like Bucky Barnes for the first time. The MCU may play with the relationship between Black Widow and the Winter Soldier in the future, replacing Natasha with Yelena, given the pair's long history in the comics.