Scarlett Johansson is, without a doubt, MCU royalty. She was part of the franchise from nearly its beginning, debuting in Iron Man 2 as Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow. Natasha made a triumphant exit in Avengers: Endgame, but the last time we saw her was in Black Widow, which was set before Endgame.

Despite Natasha’s exit, though, fans aren’t letting up. It’s the MCU, after all. If Robert Downey Jr. can return as Doctor Doom, then anything is possible. But even if Natasha is revived, the real question is: Does ScarJo want to return? 

Scarlett Johansson wants us to accept reality

Scarlett Johansson was the world’s highest-paid actress for two years, in 2018 and 2019. Evidently, the MCU proved to be a very lucrative career move financially. Furthermore, ScarJo remains the highest-grossing actress of all time, and a chunk of those billions are thanks to the MCU. But that doesn’t mean the Jurassic World: Rebirth star is interested in returning. And it’s time for hopeful fans to throw in the towel. 

In a recent piece with In Style magazine, we got a candid glimpse into Johansson’s life, both personal and professional. The piece touched on her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, and her work/life balance as a mother of two children. But when asked about the fate of Black Widow, Johansson didn’t mince her words.

Natasha is dead.

While fans are aware of the truth, the statement is still heartbreaking to hear. “She is dead,” Johansson continued. “She’s dead, okay?” Sorry, hopefuls, but according to ScarJo, “We’re going to have to let it go. She saved the world. Let her have her hero moment.”

For anyone who has forgotten, Natasha ensured that the team got the Soul Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones, by sacrificing herself in exchange for the gem on the planet Vormir. Her death was devastating but essential, as it set the precedent for much of the future of the MCU.

But what do I do if I miss Black Widow?

Some people might have forgotten, but there is still a Black Widow assassin in the MCU. First introduced in Black Widow, and later in Hawkeye, Yelena Belova is the adoptive younger sister of Natasha Romanoff. She was trained in the Red Room as a Black Widow alongside Natasha and was under the mind-control of the Red Room for years after Natasha defected.

Yelena Belova will take center stage in the MCU’s movie Thunderbolts*, which will also star Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, and Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost. 

A key part of Yelena’s character in all her appearances in the MCU so far is her love for her sister and grief over her death, so it’s not too outlandish to think Natasha might get a mention somewhere in Thunderbolts*. Johansson will also be involved in Thunderbolts* as a producer, so while Natasha is no longer present in the MCU, her spirit remains alive. 

LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition is finally here, and fans have a lot to look forward to as the movie drops on Disney Plus.

The tenth installment in LEGO and Marvel’s ongoing cinematic partnership will take place in New York City and feature some of the franchise’s favorite characters in LEGO form. These include Captain America (as portrayed by both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson), Black Widow, the Hulk, and the hero who is tasked with saving the day: Dennis, or D-Man, who has never been featured in a live-action Marvel film.

The new movie comes after LEGO Marvel Adventures: Code Red, which pit the Avengers against Hydra as the heroes set out on a mission to find Black Widow’s father, Red Guardian.

Here is everything we know about LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition.

WATCH: LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition, streaming on Disney+

What is LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition about?

This time around, the Avengers need help and only one person can help them! Dennis, who is also known as D-Man. Dennis is a Damage Control worker who unwittingly sets an enemy of the Avengers free. The enemy, known as Terrax, is set on capturing each of the Avengers, which means Demolition Man will need to step in and save the day.

Will LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition come out in theaters?

The newest animated LEGO film is only available on streaming.

Is LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition on streaming?

Yes — Mission Demolition will begin streaming exclusively on Disney Plus on Dec. 18, 2024.

What characters are in LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition?

While the story centers around an unfamiliar character — at least to those who only know Marvel through the catalog of live action movies and shows — he’ll be surrounded by plenty of familiar faces.

Soap Central reported that the Marvel characters who are featured in Demolition Man in their LEGO form include Black Panther, Iron Man, Captain America (both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson), Black Widow, and the Hulk. Wolverine and Gambit also D-Man as he attempts to rescue the captured heroes.

Additional featured characters include She-Hulk, Vision, The Thing, Rocket Raccoon, Baby Groot, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, and Moon Knight.

Is Black Widow really gone from the MCU? What with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom and Chris Evans cameoing as Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, the door seems more open than ever for Scarlett Johansson to return as Natasha Romanoff. Even if only for a multiversal cameo opposite her old Avengers co-stars in Secret Wars.

As it turns out, we don’t need to wait until 2027 for ScarJo’s next MCU project. Four years on from the release of Black Widow — which was promoted at the time as absolutely, positively the actress’ final appearance following Nat’s demise in Avengers: Endgame — the Transformers One star is confirmed to be involved in an arguably surprising studio enterprise that will be hitting screens in 2025. Nope, sorry, she’s not teaming up with Anthony Mackie’s Cap or the Fantastic Four. Johansson is back at Marvel for Thunderbolts*.

Scarlett Johansson is making her first Marvel return since Black Widow with Thunderbolts*

With the release of the first Thunderbolts* teaser trailer, Marvel Studios has subtly confirmed a surprising fact about the movie. As per Marvel.com, Scarlett Johansson officially serves as an executive producer on the film. This is her first time collaborating with the studio since Black Widow in 2020.

This revelation also helps solve a mystery we’ve been trying to crack essentially ever since, as Johansson has been known to be attached to some kind of Marvel project as a producer for years now. It only makes sense that it’s Thunderbolts*, seeing as the anti-hero team-up thriller is a Black Widow sequel in all but name. Not only is Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova in the lead, David Harbour’s Red Guardian and Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster are likewise both back in the mix. Black Widow‘s Eric Pearson similarly worked on the script.

Even so, this is a significant development in ScarJo and Marvel’s partnership, after it looked like her professional relationship with Disney might be over forever more once she sued the company over Black Widow going to streaming against her wishes. Johansson — and Marvel — clearly view Thunderbolts* as an extension of the Black Widow brand, hence why she was involved in its development behind the scenes. Although what we really want to know now is… Could this EP credit be a hint at a possible cameo in the film itself?

There are many ways to throw a little ScarJo our way without undoing her Endgame sacrifice. A flashback, most obviously, or even some kind of hallucinatory sequence. By the looks of things, Yelena’s grief leading her to find a new family with the Thunderbolts will be the big character arc of the film, so a small role for Nat even makes total narrative sense.

Even if this fails to materialize — when we were convinced Downey would cameo in Black Widow? — this EP role just ramped up Johansson’s chances of a Marvel return down the line. Don’t forget, Jeremy Renner seemed pretty certain all the OG Avengers will reassemble for Avengers: Doomsday.

After stealing our hearts in Netflix’s deliciously horny Heartstopper, Joe Locke has ed the MCU’s Agatha All Along. However, before following Kathryn Hahn into the wicked corners of Marvel, Locke was already a fan of the franchise, with some unexpected opinions about the best Avenger.  

In a recent interview for Gay Times about the third season of Heartstopper, Locke took a break from gushing about Netflix’s thirsty show to talk about his Agatha All Along experience. Locke also described a curious dinner with Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president. When asked about his favorite Marvel hero, Locke didn’t hesitate to name his top pick: Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. Feige’s reaction was, of course, one of surprise. As Locke retells it, “He was like, ‘Oh! Interesting! Nobody really says that,’ and I was like, ‘People are wrong.'”

Locke’s choice of Black Widow as the MCU’s best Avenger is indeed surprising, given the character’s lack of superpowers in a team filled with gods, super-soldiers, and tech geniuses. However, this human element is precisely what makes Natasha Romanoff stand out.

Joe Locke is right, Black Window deserves more love from Avengers fans

Unlike her superpowered teammates, Black Widow relies solely on her intelligence and sheer determination. This makes her incredibly relatable to audiences, serving as an avatar for viewers in a world of fantastical beings. However, Black Widow’s importance to the MCU extends beyond her relatability. Her character arc, from a ruthless assassin to a selfless hero, is one of the most compelling in the franchise. She knows she has red in her ledger, which is why she fights so hard to do some good in a broken world.

Moreover, Black Widow’s role as a female superhero in a male-dominated franchise cannot be overstated. She has been a trailblazer, paving the way for more diverse representation in superhero films. Long before Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel of Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, Johansson was the only female superhero in the MCU, carrying the weight of women representation on her back. As such, her strength, intelligence, and independence have made her a role model for many fans, including Locke.

Despite her significant contributions to the MCU, Black Widow has often been underappreciated. The delay in giving her a solo movie and the mixed reception of her film when it finally arrived underscore this point. So, it’s good that the character gets more recognition as the years . In championing Black Widow, Locke highlights the need to look beyond flashy powers and recognize the value of human resilience, skill, and growth.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become the most in-depth and successful franchise of all time during its 16-year run at the box office. While it began with Iron Man in 2008, for fans following the narrative, that’s not where the story actually begins.

There are currently 34 movies in the MCU — soon to be 35 with Captain America: Brave New World — released in five phases. Phases One through Three, known as the Infinity Saga, collectively bring viewers closer to the arrival of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and its epic follow-up, Avengers: Endgame. Meanwhile, phases Four through Six, known as the Multiverse Saga, began in 2021 and will eventually bring viewers closer to Robert Downey Jr.’s ultimate MCU comeback as Doctor Doom in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and its subsequent multiversal showdown in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. : Kang is a thing of the past.

Phase Four began in 2021 with the Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and continued into 2022 with three major franchise sequels: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Phase Five began in 2023 and also included four franchise sequels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, and most recently Deadpool & Wolverine.

Following the success of Marvel’s Disney Plus streaming hits like WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, we’ve received fresh entries like Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Secret Invasion, Loki season 2, and soon Agatha All Along. They aim to continue the budding tradition of bringing focused character studies to the small screen, but in light of criticism over reduced quality, Marvel has scaled back these productions a bit. Nevertheless, these shows tie into the larger Marvel universe, which is actually more of a multiverse now. However, those shows won’t be mentioned on this list, as this list pertains to feature films only.

There are numerous ways to enjoy Marvel films, including the order in which they were released, or drawn out of a hat at random, although that last option isn’t recommended for first-time viewers. However, in this article, we’ll be breaking down the chronological timeline of all films in the MCU so you can watch them in the correct narrative order. An at-a-glance lineup of Phases One through Three can be found below:

Below is a breakdown of every MCU film in narrative-timeline order, all of which, save Deadpool & Wolverine, are available to stream now on Disney Plus. Thanks to Marvel’s official The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline, we now have a clearer picture of not only what is and isn’t MCU canon, but also whether the nuggets of information we’ve compiled over the years do, indeed, fit into the slots we’ve given them. Spoiler alert: they do.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Taking place first in the timeline, Captain America: The First Avenger provides the origin story for one of Marvel’s most popular heroes, Steve Rogers, played by the dynamite Chris Evans. This film mostly takes place in 1942 and showcases Rogers’ journey from a scrawny infantry soldier to full-blown Captain America who faces off against Red Skull.

Captain Marvel

Next up is Captain Marvel, which is set in 1995, much closer to modern times. This movie is the first in the timeline to explore space travel and intergalactic threats. As we are introduced to both Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and soon-to-be S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the pair gets involved in the conflict between the Kree and the Skrulls, with surprising results.

Iron Man

The third film in the timeline was the very first Marvel film to be released: Iron Man. The billionaire philanthropist-turned-superhero Tony Stark has his origin story told in this fan-favorite film. Thanks to its box office success and fans’ adoration of Robert Downey Jr.’s performance, the film ultimately kicked off the entire MCU franchise.

Iron Man 2

Picking up shortly after the events of the first Iron Man, Iron Man 2 continues the story of the suited superhero now with his identity known to the public. Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), the son of a scientist who previously worked at Stark Industries, is back with a grudge and creates his own weaponry with the goal of taking revenge for his fallen father. The film also introduces a soon-to-be Avenger in Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

The Incredible Hulk

While many fans may choose to forego 2008’s The Incredible Hulk in their MCU binge given that it features Ed Norton in the role instead of Mark Ruffalo (who later became the official Banner), it’s still technically a part of the MCU timeline. This movie gives fans a unique take on the Hulk’s origin story and hints at more things to come in the closing credits.

Thor

Thor’s initial big-screen debut took place in 2011 and gave fans their first look at Asgard and other realms via the Bifrost. This one finds the titular god traveling to Earth to defend the world from Loki and a Frost Giant threat. For many moviegoers, this was their introduction to the beloved character, played by Chris Hemsworth, and for many it solidly delivered.

The Avengers

The first crossover film in the timeline came with The Avengers, which was set at the conclusion of Marvel’s Phase One. The Avengers brought together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, the Hulk, and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to protect the Earth from Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the Chitauri invasion. The movie also played a key role in introducing the Tesseract as the first of the Infinity Stones. These stones were ultimately the key to all future plans in the MCU.

Thor: The Dark World

The second Thor film in the MCU, Thor: The Dark World, gives us a closer look at Asgard, its inner workings, and the relationship between Thor, his brother Loki, and their father, Odin. The film also gives us insight into the second Infinity Stone, the Aether, which was wielded by the movie’s antagonists, the Dark Elves. Though it’s largely considered one of the less-impressive Marvel films, it serves its purpose and thankfully paves the way for a wonderful Thor threequel.

Iron Man 3

In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark deals with anxiety after experiencing the intergalactic invasion of the Chitauri. After diving into full damage control mode and assembling an army of suits, he’s forced to choose between being Iron Man and protecting those he loves. Meanwhile, he must also deal with the looming threat of “The Mandarin.”

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Hailed as one of the best films in the entire MCU franchise, Captain America: The Winter Soldier introduces viewers to more of Captain America’s past and throws Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, back into the fray. The movie also reveals the hidden HYDRA threat still present among the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D that ultimately leads to its demise.

Guardians of the Galaxy

When it was announced that Disney was going to bring the Guardians to the big screen, many were skeptical, but Guardians of the Galaxy turned out to be one of the best space films ever, let alone one in the MCU. It introduced us to Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel), an unlikely team that attempts to stop the plot of Ronan the Acc (Lee Pace) from using the Power Stone to destroy Xandar.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Taking place shortly after the first film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 gives us a closer look at Peter Quill’s backstory and heritage while also introducing a new member to the squad in the form of Mantis (Pom Klementieff). The story also dives deeper into the sibling rivalry between Gamora and Nebula (Karen Gillan) and shines a light on their relationship with their adoptive father, Thanos, which would pay off in just a few short films.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Crossing over once again, the cast of the original Avengers film s forces to defend the Earth from the threat of Ultron (James Spader), a supercomputer developed to be a peacekeeping program by Tony Stark, which overrides its programming and now seeks to eliminate all mankind. In the latter half of the film, the Avengers get a few new additions in the form of Vision (Paul Bettany) and the Maximoff twins, Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Ant-Man

Ant-Man tells the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a thief who is recruited by Dr. Hank Pym to assist him with stopping the plot of his former protège, who cast him away from his own company. During the film, Lang becomes Ant-Man after being gifted a suit and trained to use Pym Particles to shrink his size, giving him superhuman strength and the ability to control ants.

Captain America: Civil War

While not an Avengers film by name, Captain America: Civil War brings most of the superhero cast together for a face-off over a disagreement on the Sokovia Accords following the events of Age of Ultron. Civil War was also used to introduce a few new characters to the Avengers’ roster, including Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland).

Black Widow

Finally getting her own origin film after being part of the MCU for over a decade, Natasha Romanoff heads back to her roots in Black Widow, which launched earlier this year. The film introduced us to Natasha’s sister, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who fans got to see again in Hawkeye and who will undoubtedly be appearing again, possibly in a villainous team-up compliments of a certain character who appears in the post-credits scene.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Despite what the movie may have led you to believe, it does not take place eight years after The Avengers. Marvel finally addressed the snafu after years of sweeping it under the rug in the official Marvel Studios: The MCU — An Official Timeline book, confirming it was indeed only four years after the Battle of New York. Taking place right after the events of Civil War, Spider-Man’s MCU debut chose not to retell the hero’s origin story, instead giving us a coming-of-age film that finds Peter Parker juggling his duties as Spider-Man with the demands of high school. There are plenty of comic book Spidey villains teased throughout the film, but his biggest threat is the Vulture, menacingly played by Michael Keaton, who is apparently bad with math.

Black Panther

Instead of an origin story, when we pick up in Black Panther, T’Challa has already taken on the mantle as the titular hero after the ing of his father in Civil War. This film gives viewers their first look at the inner workings of the afrofuturistic Wakanda, as well as an epic tale of personal and ideological rivalry between T’Challa and Killmonger (Michael B Jordan).

Doctor Strange

The first time we are treated to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the MCU is in his self-titled film. The story explores the origins of Stephen Strange’s character and teases the ideas of multiple dimensions, cosmic beings, and time-traveling threats. As you’d expect, the Time Stone is also a crucial element of the film and only becomes more important from here on out. Other standout characters in the film include Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), Wong (Benedict Wong), Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton).

Thor: Ragnarok

Directed by Taika Waititi and taking on a different style and tone than the previous Thor films, Ragnarok has a more comical personality while maintaining high-quality action sequences. The film addresses many of the loose ends following Age of Ultron and follows Thor and Loki as they attempt to stop their half-sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett) from taking over Asgard. The ending of this film offers a jaw-dropping lead-in to what quickly becomes the beginning of the end of the Infinity Saga.

Avengers: Infinity War

The first part of the epic culmination of all the previous MCU films, Avengers: Infinity War finally gives us our first major introduction to Thanos (Josh Brolin), who has been working behind the scenes to gather the Infinity Stones with the goal of wiping out half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers. The movie takes place in 2018 and ultimately, leaves fans with a stunning cliffhanger that segues directly into Avengers: Endgame.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

The sequel to Ant-Man, this film takes place at the same time as the events of Infinity War in 2018 and does a great job of telling its own story within the Ant-Man comic book canon. This one digs deeper into the relationship between Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and her mother (Michelle Pfeiffer), and also introduces a mysterious new villain, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). Just like Infinity War, the final moments of this film leave viewers breathless for answers in anticipation of the impending Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame

The epic conclusion to over a decade of storytelling, Avengers: Endgame has everything fans could ever want in a Marvel film. It takes place in October 2023, five years after the events of Infinity War, and sees the remaining Avengers attempt to regain hope of defeating Thanos and restore what was lost after his infamous “Snap,” which was later renamed “The Blip.” In the closing act, Endgame boasts one of the most epic action sequences in all of cinema, blasting expectations wide open and forever changing the MCU as we know it.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi is one of the latest heroes to the MCU, and in this first film exploring his character’s origin, we learn more about his role amidst the greater events playing out within the franchise. Alongside his friend Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi is drawn back into the life he used to know and must face the father (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) he thought he left behind. During the iconic bus fight scene between Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings operative Gao Lei, we’re shown the dates July 21 to 28 in a Jazz Blues Festival ment. Since Katy’s grandma also mentions the “Day of the Dead,” a festival resembling the Chinese Qingming Festival — which takes place in April — and the film itself spans two weeks, we can assume the movie takes place in April 2024. This would put it before Far From Home.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Picking up right after Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home addresses the events that took place during the previous film while also introducing some new faces and returning characters from the past. It takes place during the summer of 2024, eight months after The Blip. This is the perfect bridging point to close out Phase Three and enter Phase Four of the MCU — after watching Shang-Chi, of course.

Eternals

With its many flashbacks telling the story not only of the Eternals themselves but also the history of the universe, it can be difficult to give this film a true place in the MCU timeline. That said, its present-day moments take place around the same time as Far From Home in 2024, likely just afterward given that the events of the film were not mentioned in the Spider-Man sequel. Fans and critics were largely split on the film (to put it mildly), except in regard to that colorful cameo by Harry Styles in the post-credits scene. Whether Styles will actually return to the MCU is another matter entirely.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Logan took place in 2029, so Deadpool & Wolverine must also take place during or after that, meaning it should be at the bottom of this list. Well, no. The Merc with the Mouth’s first foray into the MCU actually occurs in 2024. We know this because after Happy Hogan rejects Wade’s request to the Avengers (on March 14, 2018, on Earth-616) the time stamp on the screen tells us we jump six years into the future — back on Earth-1005 — which would place the film in 2024. And because we see Wade celebrating his birthday and he’s said in the comics that he’s a Scorpio (on the cusp of a Libra, thank you very much) — and because Deadpool & Wolverine showcases a decent amount of fall foliage — we can safely assume the film occurs in October 2024. As for why Earth-10005’s Wolverine is already dead at the beginning of Deadpool & Wolverine when Logan’s death shouldn’t have occurred for another five years — well, it’s likely that Wade jumped forward in time using the TVA’s TemPad. That, or we’re just going to file the mistake away with all of Marvel’s other embarrassing timeline errors.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home takes place immediately after its predecessor, Far From Home around Nov. 2024. The film brings Peter Parker on the most mind-blowing adventure of his life ⏤ which, unfortunately, no one but he will . The film saw him grapple with everything from losing his Aunt May, to facing off against villains from completely different universes. It also led to Peter finding an unexpected brotherhood with alternate versions of himself, perfectly brought to life by Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire in tear-inducing appearances that will stand the test of time.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Benedict Cumberbatch’s return as the title character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness picked up after the events of No Way Home. It saw Strange deal with the implications of multiversal travel while facing new friends and foes, some of whom created serious trouble for him (ahem – Wanda). Wanda’s future was thrown into flux after she was presumably killed off in the movie’s final moments, but she is rumored to return in a Disney Plus spin-off series, which may or may not happen since Marvel subtly announced that the Earth-616 version of the character is canonically dead. Strange, too, received a cliffhanger ending, something we hope will be addressed in the rumored Doctor Strange 3.

In the meantime, you can rest assured that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness takes place after Spider-Man: No Way Home, which takes place right around the events of Hawkeye, which takes place around Christmas 2024.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Thanks to Disney Plus, we now know that — in the eyes of Marvel Studios — this film takes place after Doctor Strange 2. It also takes place after Ms. Marvel, which is believed to take place around Sept. 2025 because of the school’s homecoming dance. However, in Love and Thunder Jane Foster’s eppendorf vial’s tag includes the date April 30, suggesting it takes place in the beginning of 2025. Unfortunately, since we don’t know exactly when Thor and Jane broke up, the God of Thunder’s comments about their breakup happening 8 years 7 months and 6 days before the movie doesn’t exactly paint a clear picture either. Our best bet is to just assume Love and Thunder takes place in April 2025, especially when looking at the next MCU installments on the timeline.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

According to Black Panther Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore, we have a place in the timeline to slot Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Moore says that this film takes place alongside the events of Thor: Love and Thunder, around the start of 2025, so for all rewatching purposes you should be able to enjoy either film first. This placement would make a lot of sense, since neither film directly affects the events of the other. Secret Invasion, on the other hand, almost had us questioning the timing of things when our favorite CIA from Wakanda Forever was revealed to be a Skrull (that was all put to rest in the season finale, though).

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

For those who are sticklers for dates, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania takes place during the start of 2025, like Wakanda Forever. How do we know this? A news clip in Wakanda Forever mentions Scott Lang’s book tour, and because book tours don’t last entire years, Quantumania definitely takes place before The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which occurs later that year during Christmastime, which also means it takes place before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, Disney Plus messed with the timeline when it decided to place Quantumania after The Guardians Holiday Special, which it most certainly is not, resulting in MODOK-sized canon headache, if you ask us. It wouldn’t be the first time Disney Plus goofed with the MCU’s timeline, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the time Quantumania was accidentally erased from Phase Five. (Don’t worry, it’s not).

The Marvels

Ms. Marvel provides us with a pretty good guestimation where The Marvels takes place on the MCU timeline. Because the Disney Plus series is believed to take place around Sept. 2025 and Kamala Khan’s body-swapping problem doesn’t go unaddressed long, The Marvels likely takes place before 2026, which means it comes before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Carol Danvers’ intergalactic team-up with Captain Rambeau and Kamala to defeat the Kree general Dar-Benn in the highly-anticipated sequel to her billion-dollar predecessor, Captain Marvel, also happens to be the shortest movie in MCU history. Should any information in the movie, which will premiere in just a few short days, contradict this entry, we will revise it ASAP.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

It’s hard to give Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 an exact place on the MCU’s timeline since it is unaffected by previous films and has little effect on the overall MCU storyline. However, it’s safe to say that this intergalactic, twisty-turny threequel takes place in 2026 since it occurs after the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in Dec. 2025. As a rule of thumb, here’s every MCU movie you should watch before starting Vol. 3.

Let this be a lesson to one Sam Altman; if you’re going to try and pull something shady behind someone’s back after they very explicitly declined to work with you, make sure that that someone isn’t as lawsuit-savvy as Scarlett Johansson, because she will identify the holes in your scandalous enterprise and hold you as able as possible.

According to a recent statement shared by the Black Widow star’s publicist to NPR, Johansson revealed that “Sky”—an artificial intelligence system created by OpenAI for ChatGPT 4.0 whose voice was deliberately modeled after that of the actress’, and which has since been taken down—was created without her consent, having turned down the offer from Altman to voice the system last September. She noted that the tech CEO sought Johansson’s voice in order to help “bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives and help consumers to feel comfortable with the seismic shift concerning humans and AI.”

But Sky was then pretty obviously developed with Johansson in mind anyway, with the rollout of Sky having been accompanied by a tweet from Altman that simply read “her” (a reference to the film Her, in which Scarlett Johansson voices an artificial intelligence that develops a relationship with a man). Moreover, Johansson’s agent was also ed by Altman two days prior to Sky’s rollout, with the CEO hoping that the actress would reconsider; Sky was released to the public before the two ever reconnected.

With the help of legal counsel, Johansson confronted Altman and OpenAI, and Sky was eventually taken down. Johansson closed her statement with hopes for “resolution in the form of transparency and the age of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected.”

And so now, OpenAI had better be ready to cooperate, lest they end up in a position where they would be wise to hit the big, red “settle” button as swiftly as possible. While the actress hasn’t sued OpenAI outright at the time of writing, she certainly has a surplus of legal/moral ammunition here, and especially given her clear ion for the situation at hand, it stands to reason that she has no qualms ing it if need be; her legal run-in with Disney proved that years ago.

In the summer of 2021, Johansson sued the Mouse House for breach of contract, noting that Black Widow — a Marvel Cinematic Universe feature film starring Johansson as the title character — was, according to the deal she signed with Disney, guaranteed to have an exclusive theatrical release. The film, however, was simultaneously released on Disney Plus along with its theatrical bow, gutting its box office potential and thereby negatively impacting Johansson’s payday in exchange for giving consumers a major reason to subscribe to the then-niche Disney Plus. That lawsuit was settled in September of that same year with undisclosed .

Indeed, put the shovel down, OpenAI; Johansson shoots demonstrably straight when it comes to lawsuits, and with all the proverbial bowling pins that Altman has set up for Johansson to knock down, you might find that “resolution in the form of transparency” and “appropriate legislation” isn’t so bad.

Scarlett Johansson was cemented as one of the most popular actresses in the world thanks to her turn as Natasha Romanoff in the MCU, debuting in 2010’s Iron Man 2. And yet maybe certain other films she’s made will age better than her Marvel movies.

Controversial? Perhaps, but ScarJo herself seems to have put the MCU behind her following 2020’s Black Widow — itself a prequel to Avengers: Endgame, which killed Nat off. By the looks of things, she made the right call as one of her classic films that you probably haven’t seen in years is now swimming to stardom on streaming once more. Something her last Marvel outing couldn’t hope to achieve in its dizziest daydreams.

Scarlett Johansson’s most underrated movie maxing out on Max proves why we’re never getting Black Widow 2

According to Flix Patrol, a surprise title has risen up the ranks of the streaming charts to reach as high as number two on Max’s top 10 in the United States, at the time of writing. Behind Wonka, which continues to reign supreme in the top spot, is none other than The SpongeBob SqaurePants Movie.

Hands up who either forgot ScarJo was in the SpongeBob movie or who never knew to begin with? Yup, long before bringing Black Widow to the movies was even a glint in Kevin Feige’s eye, Johansson voiced Princess Mindy, daughter of King Neptune, in the iconic — at least for a certain generation — 2004 animation. Even all these years later, no doubt thanks to SpongeBob‘s immortal staying power, the original feature-length outing for the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom is finding love all over again on streaming.

Here’s the sad truth, though. 2020’s Black Widow is highly unlikely to enjoy a similar surge of success over on Disney Plus. Out of all the many MCU movies, the Cate Shortland production ranks as one of the most forgettable and one of the least popular among the fandom. Originally, there was talk of a Black Widow 2 happening, but amidst all the scandal involving its complicated mid-pandemic release that soon quietened. All these years later, the Black Widow brand is now seemingly dead, even if Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova will be the lead in Thunderbolts*.

Who knows, maybe Scarlett telling Al Roker that she could come back as a zombie one day was a preview of an unexpected comeback in Avengers: Secret Wars, but for the moment a reprisal of Princess Mindy seems far more likely.

To most people, it would seem as though the MCU is drawing its last breaths and hanging on to anything that would allow it to recreate the sensational box office streak of the Infinity Saga. And whether or not you’re for the expression, “catching lightning in a bottle twice,” Kevin Feige is apparently hopeful some of the movies will make those prospects real, namely The Fantastic Four, which, according to new reports, is bringing the studio’s “stalwart” on board to fix problems with the script ahead of its summer shoot.

The exciting Marvel project on the horizon may be Deadpool & Wolverine headlined by real-life frenemies Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, but most of the gossip seems to be revolving around The Fantastic Four these days. From rumors of Henry Cavill making his MCU debut as Doctor Doom, to speculation about that juicy cast poster, fans are dying to learn more about the long-awaited, much-dismayed, and utterly sensational return of the Fantastic Four after that abysmal 2015 outing.

Now, a new report by The Hollywood Reporter suggests that Marvel has secretly hired their go-to script doctor to finalize the draft for The Fantastic Four.

Eric Pearson, who previously worked on Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow, and is known apparently for “taking projects over the finish line” is currently working on both The Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts.

Is that a good thing, though? Well, Thor: Ragnarok is currently known as one of the best MCU movies, even if the same could hardly be said about Black Widow. So, I guess when it comes down to it, we’d probably prefer to have as many hands on deck as possible. The MCU has been teetering on the edge of a failure they may never recover from, so in many ways, the company’s future relies on the success of this one movie. Hopefully, Pearson will prove to be the man for the job, even if his track record is inconsistent, to say the least.

If you didn’t already know that the Hollywood diva is married and has children, we’re sorry for breaking your hearts. Scarlett Johansson‘s journey from being a child star to becoming Hollywood royalty is all in the public eye. Yet, the MCU icon makes it a point to carefully wrap her personal life in a protective layer, especially when it comes to her children.

Immortalizing her name as the highest-grossing box office star of all time, Scarlett Johansson has spent a glorious three decades in Hollywood now, keeping us all captivated by her enchanting screen presence. However, alongside being the epitome of grace and talent on screen, the 39-year-old has proven to be an equally magnetic personality in real life.

Talking about her off-screen life first brings us to probably the most sought-after question: Is Scarlett Johansson married? And the answer to that is probably already known to her die-hard fans — yes, three times.

Who is Scarlett Johansson’s husband?

Johansson first married Hollywood’s leading man Ryan Reynolds in Sept. 2008 and the couple quickly gained prominence as one of the industry’s hottest couples. However, the pair separated in Dec. 2010 and divorced in July 2011. A little over a year later, Johansson began dating Frenchman Romain Dauriac, the owner of an advertising agency. The two also eventually turned their relationship to marriage in Oct. 2014, but separated in mid-2016 and divorced in Sept. 2017.

After separating from Duriac, Johansson began dating Saturday Night Live co-head writer and Weekend Update co-host Colin Jost in May 2017. The two were engaged in May 2019 and married in Oct. 2020, at their New York home.

However, amidst all this, the Black Widow actress was blessed with two beautiful children from two separate marriages. Despite being in the spotlight all the time, Johansson kept her pregnancies mostly a secret, citing that she didn’t want “to feel scrutinized in the public eye.” She opened up about it to Vanity Fair in her March 2022 interview:

“I wanted to be able to have my own feelings about my changing body without other people also telling me how they saw me, whether it was positive or negative.”

But even though Johansson keeps her children out of the spotlight, not sharing any public pictures of them, she often talks about motherhood and the beautiful fleeting moments with her children. Here’s everything you need to know about Scarlett Johansson’s two kids:

Who are Scarlett Johansson’s children?

The Asteroid City star had her first child with her ex-husband Romain Dauriac, a daughter named Rose Dorothy Dauriac on Aug. 30, 2014. “She shadows me, like, all the time which is wonderful,” Scarlett once told Kelly Clarkson during a July 2021 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Despite being separated from Dauriac, Johansson is co-parenting Rose with him, stressing that “It’s not probably how it’s supposed to be” but, they do it “as well as we can” (via Vanity Fair).

Though Johansson keeps her nine-year-old’s life private, she often speaks about her. On The Ellen Show, she once revealed that Rose is “very, very, very, girly. Like painfully girly.” It appears that she has also inherited her mother’s wit and intelligence, Johansson also revealed to Ellen that “If you ask her [Rose] what I do for a living, she says, ‘Mommy is a superhero’” (she sure is, Rose).

Johansson welcomed her second child, a son named Cosmo Jost seven years later with her present husband, Colin Jost, in Aug. 2021. This was revealed by Colin on Aug. 19. in an announcement post on Instagram, where he wrote “Ok ok we had a baby. His name is Cosmo. We love him very much.”

Cosmo was born only a few months before Johansson started shooting for Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, and she revealed to People that the sweet little man became the “set baby,” already outshining his mom on the sets:

“I actually wasn’t popular, it was just the baby. People were excited to see the baby, not me. They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s you. Where’s baby?'”

Speaking about her parenting experience with her two kids, Johansson once reflected upon every mother’s collective realization about the difference between parenting a baby and a toddler. During an episode with The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast, she said,

“Having a baby is so lovely. They’re so cute. They sit there and they love you and then that’s it. And you just get, like, love from them, whereas you get a lot of grief from toddlers.”

But despite all the challenges, Johansson loves every bit of motherhood. She’s a proud mom to both Rose and Cosmo, who both are named after flowers.

As odd as it may be to say about the world’s biggest movie franchise, the MCU has a visibility problem right now. Just take a look at The Marvels‘ record-breakingly low opening weekend. Luckily, there’s a way Fantastic Four can fix things.

Ironically, one insane but guaranteed cure — one that would 100% send audiences flying into theaters to check out the MCU once more — all rests on the shoulders of Invisible Woman herself, Sue Storm. With the news that Pedro Pascal is very likely going to be our Reed Richards, the onus is on Marvel to find a female lead who can match The Mandalorian man in popularity and widespread appeal.

There are various actresses who would do wonderful jobs in the part, but let’s be honest, what Marvel really needs right now is a piece of stunt casting so mind-blowing even the most casual moviegoers wouldn’t dare miss out how it plays out. OK, here goes: what if Scarlett Johansson played Sue Storm?

Before you strap me into a straight jacket and hall me away to a padded cell, please, just hear me out. First, this is the Multiverse Saga, where normal casting rules do not apply. Ex-Marvel stars can come back in any role they want to. Continuity hiccup or canon clash? Doesn’t matter, they come from another universe. Move along. Second of all, although it may seem surprising, after her acrimonious lawsuit with Disney in 2020, ScarJo is actually still close with Marvel and is even actively collaborating with the studio.

Kevin Feige recently confirmed the Black Widow actress remains attached to produce an unknown project. What’s more, Johansson made some intriguing comments to TODAY in a recent interview discussing her potential Marvel future, jokingly refusing to answer host Al Roker’s questions. It’s easy to assume she is cooking something up with Marvel, then, but it certainly sounds like she has left Natasha Romanoff in her rearview mirror. So, let’s just imagine for a second, that she’s switching it up for Sue Storm.

The aforementioned Marvel prez may be denying it, but reports claim the House of Ideas is actively considering bringing back some of its OG Avengers cast in a bid to bring those loyal Infinity Saga viewers back. Would casting ScarJo as, er, SueSto be a backwards, indulgent move that takes away a brilliant role from a fresh actress who deserves a shot in the MCU? Absolutely. Can you tell me that you wouldn’t be pre-ordering your ticket for this gonzo version of Fantastic Four as soon as sales went live? Thought not.

Vanessa Kirby would kill it in the part, no question, yet sadly the recent underperformance of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning perhaps isn’t the most encouraging indicator of her box office power. But slipping one of Marvel’s most tried-and-tested lucrative stars in there, even just for a brief multiversal cameo (the Council of Sues, anyone)? Now, that would really get them talking. And if Chris Evans can come back as Human Torch too, thereby combining two out of the six founding Avengers… Well, just sit back and watch that much-needed $1 billion roll in.

To conclude, the Fantastic Four casting conversation has gone on so long that my brain is broken. Thank you, and good night.

When Taylor Swift first started sharing her bedroom songwriting with the world in 2006, Marvel movies were far, far, from being what they eventually became — but then again, so was Taylor.

You could say the brand and the pop star enjoyed a parallel ascent, and while their paths never really crossed (soon, they might), they have always been two sides of the same effervescent and endlessly contentious American pop culture coin. The mark of any truly impactful cultural footprint: You either hate them or you love them, there’s no in-between.

To this day, Swifties regularly quote the iconic tweet from 2019, “Since y’all wanna be assholes for Taylor. Iron man dies in endgame [SIC].” And who could forget that time Taylor borrowed Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool costume for Halloween (a premonition if we’ve ever seen one)? The MCU and the “Cruel Summer” singer have always been destined to meet, we’re just speeding up the process.

Here are 27 Marvel characters matched to sheer perfection to their Taylor Swift song.

Thanos: “Lavender Haze”

Sure, “Look What You Made Me Do” or “Vigilante S**t” would suffice for Thanos, but we’d be remiss not to give this purple Mad Titan a song befitting of his skin-tone. Now, I’d like you to promptly imagine this genocidal maniac seductively dipping his cheekbone in a pool of purple, lavender-filled water. You’re welcome!

Loki: “Anti-Hero”

What a journey Loki has had in the MCU. “Anti-Hero” might not be among the songs Taylor has written about her whirlwind romance with Tom Hiddleston, but it certainly best describes his Marvel character. Every villain either dies as one (and, believe us, he tried) or lives long enough to see himself become an anti-hero.

Thor: “Love Story”

He was Romeo, she was Juliet — but they drew too many stars around each other’s scars, and eventually those scars started bleeding (sorry, mixing up songs here). Anyway, fast forward eight years, seven months, and six days, and come to find out this pair’s love story wasn’t finished being written yet. Then Marvel had to go and ruin it all. That’s where Taylor’s “Love Story” comes into play. Let’s just forget Marvel’s tragic ending, and imagine that Thor and Jane continued to teach each other the “way of the warrior” and the “way of the people.” And they lived happily ever after. 

Star-Lord & Gamora: “I Knew You Were Trouble”

Some romances are easy-peasy, and some go together like oil and water. Given that Gamora only said one sentence to Peter in Guardians of the Galaxy before kicking him in the stomach, stealing the Orb, and then stealing his heart, there’s perhaps no better pairing for “I Knew You Were Trouble” than these two.

Steve & Bucky: “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince”

Sorry, the opportunity to match this iconic song to Steve and Bucky was right there, and we couldn’t not take it. You know how it goes, Mister Americana and his Heartbreak Prince are with each other until the end of the line.

Steve & Tony from Captain America: Civil War: “Bad Blood”

Taylor initially wrote this 2010s pop staple about Katy Perry, but that’s only a tiny jump away from the feud that put the two Avengers leaders on a path of collision that eventually led to an actual Civil War. Taylor might have compared Katy stealing some of her tour dancers to a “bullet hole,” but not even she could match the dramatics of Tony and Steve in Captain America 3.

Starfox: “Style”

I mean… did you expect anything else? Taylor never reveals who her songs are about, but “Style” was always a no-brainer. This pairing is a match made in heaven, even if the romance that inspired it was short-lived. We may never see Starfox in the MCU again, but Harry Styles is the perfect Eros. There, I said it. Sue me.

Matt Murdock: “Vigilante S**t”

Sometimes in order to get things done, you’ve got to do some vigilante s**t, am I right? No one knows that better than Taylor — ahem, I mean Matt Murdock. This Devil of Hell’s Kitchen is a man of law in the courtroom, but he’s not above bying those guardrails on the streets if it means catching the bad guy. Taylor also knows a thing or two about catching the bad guy — or, at least, that’s the assumption if our theories about the genesis of “Vigilante S**t” are correct.

Scarlet Witch: “Mad Woman”

As two deeply empathetic women who have had to face constant scrutiny from a young age, there was an abundance of Taylor Swift songs that perfectly matched Wanda Maximoff (the entire Reputation album, for starters). Yet, there’s none that quite matches the desperation of a woman pushed to her limit like “Mad Woman” from the masterpiece that is folklore.

Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers: “The Man”

Carol Danvers has been at the receiving end of a lot of unjustified flak during her time in the MCU. The way a particularly toxic subsection of the Marvel fandom turned against both the character, and actor Brie Larson, and mobilized to boycott her movies was unprecedented. People hated Carol for being cold, angry, and stand-offish, which, go figure, have historically been traits those same viewers find cool in male characters. And Taylor Swift knows all about being chastised for things that are usually celebrated in the opposite sex.

Clint Barton/Hawkeye: “The Archer”

I’ll confess, I initially paired Clint with “The Archer” because, well, that’s what he is! However, upon revisiting this introspective ballad, I realized just how fitting its lyrics are for a man who has been defined by the death of his loved ones — namely, the heartbreaking end of his best friend and hero, Natasha.

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow: “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”

There have been a lot of heartbreaking deaths in the MCU, but none have felt as unjust as Natasha’s. Although her sacrifice was equivalent to that of Tony’s, she didn’t even get the honor of a funeral. We’ll never forgive Marvel for that.

Quentin Beck/Mysterio: “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

We all know this choice wasn’t completely innocent. It is rumored this iconic bop was written about Jake Gyllenhaal, but it’s also quite fitting for his character Quentin Beck, since Taylor is describing the most obnoxious man alive in the lyrics. Jake is a fantastic actor, and he completely nailed his performance as Mysterio, but good God, I think he’s the villain I have wanted to strangle the most out of anyone in the MCU.

Dr. Strange: “Hey Stephen”

Underneath his rich playboy exterior, Stephen Strange is a sweetheart. He can never say no to a teenager in need, and he can be quite funny when he wants. Taylor said it best: Hey, Stephen, “Come feel this magic I’ve been feeling since I met you.” It’s not often an Avenger has a Taylor Swift song named after them, after all.

Nebula: “Tolerate It”

We know Taylor is probably singing about a dismissive lover in this heartwrenching ballad, but there are a lot of lyrics that scream “daddy issues” here, too. There are, in fact, a lot of characters with absent fathers in the MCU. Loki or Tony Stark would be great fits here too, but there’s something about the way Nebula tried to do her best for her dad at all times, and received nothing but contempt and violence in return, that has always made us root harder for her character. Thankfully, in the end, just like Taylor in “Tolerate It,” she realized she deserved better.

Peter Parker & MJ: “It’s Nice to Have a Friend”

Out of all iterations of Spider-Man on the big screen, Tom Holland and the MCU’s feels the most like a true, awkward teenager trying to navigate the confusing world of puberty and superheroism. A lot of that is down to Peter’s relationship with M.J., which is simultaneously wholesome and mature for its level of commitment and partnership. We love the idea of these two lovebirds going from childhood friends to an old married couple, just like Taylor describes in this beautifully innocent lullaby.

Valkyrie: “King of My Heart”

We believe this one is pretty self-explanatory. Obviously, Taylor is singing to a man here, but we are huge fans of the way the MCU took a page from Beyoncé’s book and made this iconic lady the new King of Asgard. Given the extreme queer energy that King Brunnhilde exudes, we are definitely happy to turn this love song into a women-loving-women anthem for the purposes of this list.

Adam Warlock: “Bejeweled”

The MCU version of Adam Warlock may have been more of a derp than a threat, but hey, that gold skin was blinding all the same. No, that isn’t the Mind Stone on his forehead, or the Soul Stone — both of those were destroyed in Avengers: Endgame. It’s probably just his birthstone. We’re thinking topaz. Just imagine how bright he makes the whole place shimmer when he stands under the mirrorball. 

He Who Remains: “Mastermind”

Mr. Free-will-stealer himself is the perfect pair for this infectious Taylor banger about how she carefully planned the meeting and courtship of her lover, all the while trying to trick him into thinking it was all fate. That’s basically what He Who Remains was doing to everyone on the Sacred Timeline for eons, right?

Hela: “Better Than Revenge”

The ultimate baddie T-Swift song for the ultimate Marvel baddie. The lyrics of “Better Than Revenge” (even the revised ones) are practically tailor-made for Hela, who returns from imprisonment in Thor: Ragnarok to reclaim the crown her younger brother Thor stole from her. Now, we don’t condone revenge, but if you’re the Goddess of Death, we won’t deny it’s fun to watch. Wait, does that mean Taylor’s… ? Never mind. 

Deadpool/Wade Wilson: “Karma”

Honestly, we’ll let this image speak for itself. But also, we really need Taylor to give her bestie Ryan the rights to this song in Deadpool 3, and create what would easily be the most iconic needle drop in the history of the MCU (sorry, James Gunn and Peter’s Awesome Mix!).

Avengers: Endgame: “End Game”

We did it. We made it to the endgame. Taylor might as well have been g directly to the Avengers and Thanos with this contemporary lyrical hit. Avengers: Endgame saw the “A-team” reach back in time to restore the universe to its rightful state and confront Thanos, whose reputation preceded him, in the ultimate showdown that blew the Marvel universe — and the box office — wide open.  

King T’Challa/Black Panther: “Long Live”

Sorry, we didn’t mean to sucker punch you in the gut, but we couldn’t up this opportunity to honor T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman’s legacy. “Long Live” not only encapsulates the significance of T’Challa and Boseman’s impact on Marvel, but also their impact on cinema and the Marvel fandom. “Long live the walls we crashed through,” Taylor sings, and indeed, Black Panther blew through expectations to become the highest-grossing movie directed by a Black filmmaker, with Boseman as its leading man. “One day, we will be ed,” sings Taylor —  This one’s for you, Chadwick. From all of us. You will never be forgotten.

On this day, Oct. 17, 2023, Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, sacrificed herself on the planet Vormir so that the Avengers could get the Soul Stone, reverse Thanos’ snap, and kill the Mad Titan once and for all. Instead of being recognized for her selflessness — without which the Avengers plan would never have worked — her death was sidelined in favor of honoring Tony Stark’s.

It was not the first, nor the last time a woman superhero was treated unfairly by Marvel. The superhero franchise has an unsavory past of pulling the rug out from under its female characters, and the actresses who embody them. As former X-Men: The Last Stand director Matthew Vaughn said at the 2023 New York Comic Con, the reason he famously backed out of the directorial seat last minute, was that the studio executives had concocted a plan to lure Halle Berry into g on as Storm for a third time by drafting a fake script, and then “throw[ing] it in the bin” once she came on board.

The Russo Brothers, on the other hand, claimed Black Widow didn’t get a funeral in Endgame because “Natasha [had] another movie coming out,” but wouldn’t it have been just as easy to include her emblem of dual batons beside Tony’s arc reactor on the memorial bed of flowers drifting across the lake? Some visual token of tribute?

Indeed, the farther you dig into Marvel’s past, the harder it becomes to ignore a disproportionately doomstruck female fate; strong woman characters die off, while men continue to keep the franchise afloat. The historic trail of dead female baddies goes back a ways — the demise of Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is only the most recent marker — while the men of Marvel soldier on, mostly intact. 

In addition to Scarlet Johansson’s Black Widow, consider Ajak (Salma Hayek), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Wanda/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), and even Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) — these are just a handful of female leads who’ve died too soon. And guess what most of them have in common? They sacrificed themselves, either to save someone specific, or for the greater good. 

It’s true that that a past version of Gamora came back, and we don’t even know for sure whether Elizbeth Olsen’s Wanda is dead for good, but it’s hard not to discern the pattern. Sacrifice is one of the most common female storytelling tropes, and Marvel continues to fall prey to it. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with sacrifice, per se, but when it becomes every female character’s defining quality, it perpetuates the notion that women are only here to lay their lives down for the men beside them. 

The limited mindset that frames women in media within a two-dimensional construct is not confined solely to fiction, of course. Let’s not forget Scarlett Johansson was herself villainized, thrown under the bus, and publicly lambasted by Disney for calling the company out when it decided her character’s solo film, Black Widow, wasn’t worth the same level of respect as her male colleagues’ solo films. 

Captain Marvel was the franchise’s first female-led superhero film, and will become the first to receive a sequel with The Marvels on Nov. 10. Marvel has an opportunity to do right by Carol Danvers, Ms. Marvel, and Captain Rambeau. Now more than ever, the studio needs to course correct. There’s no better time than the anniversary of Natasha Romanoff’s death to call for this most basic of justices.