Black Widow’sMCUreplacement is set to be fully established inThunderbolts*, but this will continue a heartbreaking trend that has already plagued Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier for several years. Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff was a crucial part of the Infinity Saga, so herAvengers: Endgamedeath and final farewell in her retrospective solo movie,Black Widow, have left a noticeable void in the MCU. Marvel Studios has set up the perfectreplacement for the MCU’s Black Widow, however, andThunderbolts*may make this official.
Marvel Studios' upcomingThunderboltsmoviewill bring together a number of reformed villains and antiheroes from the MCU’s history as a brand-new superpowered team. While she won’t be appearing on-screen,Thunderboltswill also markScarlett Johansson’s return to the MCU, as she is an executive producer on the Phase 5 movie.This supports a major theory that states Marvel Studios' new Black Widow will finally emerge inThunderbolts*, but while this is exciting, it also continues a devastating MCU trend.
Thunderbolts* May Make Yelena Belova The MCU’s New Black Widow
Yelena Belova Wears A Black Widow Belt In Thunderbolts*
The perfect candidate to take over the Black Widow moniker from Natasha Romanoff is, of course, Yelena Belova. Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova debuted as another Black Widow assassin in the eponymous 2021 movie, and was introduced as a sister-figure to Romanoff, so she is primed to continue her fallen sister’s legacy.Thunderbolts*‘first teaser trailer seems to have confirmed this evolution, as some eagle-eyed viewers, including@hailbishova, have spotted Yelena Belova with the Red Room’s Black Widow symbol on her new costume’s belt buckle.
Natasha Romanoff previously sported thisBlack Widow logo on her MCU costumes, depicting the hourglass shape that appears on the bodies of female black widow spiders. This reflects the Black Widow assassins’ equipment and acrobatic skills, namely the wrist-worn Black Widow Bite, which allows them to electrocute their enemies at close range.Since Yelena Belova was also a Black Widow assassin, it makes sense that she would sport this icon and officially take over the mantle, though she may be reluctant to do so.
Yelena Taking On The Red Room Logo Is Heartbreaking
Yelena Belova May Not Want To Be Associated With The Black Widows
In the first teaser trailer forThunderbolts*, Yelena Belova expresses frustration about her life after being freed from the Red Room’s mind control. This has pushed her to continue doing contract work, this time for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, but she hopes instead to forge her own path.The fact that Yelena will still use the Black Widow logo and moniker even after taking back control of her own life is heartbreaking, and mirrors the overarching MCU narrative of anotherupcoming Thunderbolts member, Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier.
Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes has spent years trying to come to terms with and move on from his Winter Soldier identityafter HYDRA’s conditioning was broken in Wakanda. This was an important storyline inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the title of which proved thatBucky may never escape the Winter Soldier moniker, despite perhaps wanting to shift into becoming the MCU’s White Wolf. This is the same as Yelena Belova’s relationship to the Black Widow moniker, but this superhero title is actually perfect for the up-and-coming hero.
Why Yelena’s Official Moniker Would Be So Perfect
Becoming Black Widow Would Be A Sign Of Development For Yelena Belova
Although the Black Widow moniker has horrible roots in the Red Room, Natasha Romanoff’s career as an Avenger using the name Black Widow transformed the title into a force for good.Yelena Belova adopting this moniker inThunderbolts*would ensure that she continues the themes established by Romanoff, and is the perfect way to pay homage to and honor her late sister. It’s also a natural evolution for Yelena - she is already referred to as aBlack Widow assassin, but it would be fantastic to see her becometheBlack Widow, a bona fide hero.
Ant-Man and the Wasp(2018)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier(2021)
Olga Kurylenko
Black Widow(2021)
Beyond honoring Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova assuming the Black Widow moniker would also be a brilliant way to prove to the other members of the Thunderbolts team that they are united and defined by their past trauma.Each of them have been through hardships, and have left damage in their wake, and they shouldn’t ignore this when setting out to do good, but should respect it and use to show how far they’ve come.Yelena Belova becoming the new Black WidowinThunderbolts*would be a powerful statement, and would be exciting for the MCU’s future.
Thunderbolts*
Cast
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories to survive and achieve their goals.
