Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton may be joined by the next Black Widow when the archer returns for his own standalone series. Florence Pugh is reportedly reprising her role as Yelena Belova in Marvel Studios’Hawkeyeseries for Disney+.
Pugh is set to make her first appearance as Yelena Belova in Marvel Studios’Black Widow,the long-awaited standalone filmfocused on Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff. Set after the events ofCaptain America: Civil Warand before Romanoff sacrificed her own life inAvengers: Endgame, the filmis expected to lay the groundwork for Pugh to take over the Black Widow mantle largely due to the fact that Belova is the second modern-era character to assume the moniker in the comics.
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While The Direct reports Pugh will return as Belova inHawkeye, the full extent of the character’s role in the Disney+ series is currently unknown. However, the outlet’s sources claim Belova will wear a “Ronin-inspired” costume at one point inHawkeye.Renner’s Barton wore such an outfit inAvengers: Endgameduring the character’s time as a vigilante after his family was murdered by Thanos in the Mad Titan’s decimation. While the possibility of seeing Belova don a Ronin outfit may raise questions about her potential future as the next Black Widow, Pugh has previously indicated thatthe character’s fate is not set in stoneand may depend on the audience’s reception to her debut.
Marvel Studios’Hawkeyeis said to further explore Barton’s time as Ronin while the archer trains Kate Bishop to take over the title as his successor. Hailee Steinfeld was said to have been eyed for the role of Bishop, though the actress has reportedlylong since stepped away from the project. Production onHawkeyebegan in late November with Jonathan Igla on board as lead writer and executive producer alongside a team of directors that includes Amber Finlayson and Katie Ellwood, a.k.a. Bert and Bertie, and Rhys Thomas.
Marvel Studios' plans for Pugh may be more clear onceBlack Widowis released in theaters, though that debut has taken longer than expected on account of the global pandemic. Initially scheduled to launch the summer blockbuster season of 2020, Disney eventually pushed backBlack Widow’s release date to November of the same year beforepostponing the film again until May 2021.
Fortunately, fans don’t have to wait until then for Marvel Studios' Phase 4 to officially begin.WandaVision, a series focused on Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany’s The Vision, will launch the next era of the MCU whenthe series premieres on Disney+ in January.
Black Widowis scheduled to be released in theaters on July 22, 2025
