While there were some pretty mindblowing reveals at SDCC, leave it to Marvel Studios to also unveil the LEAST-shocking information of the weekend. The studio confirmed what we all already knew when it comes to ‘Black Widow’, the movie that has been filming now for over a month. Not only did Marvel confirm that they were making the movie, but that it had cast a bunch of people we already knew had been cast ( Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, O-T Fagbenle, and Rachel Weisz), and that it was coming out when we already knew it was coming out (May 1, 2020). Marvel also confirmed that some of the characters that we already knew were in it were actually in it, including Florence Pugh as replacement Black Widow, Yelena Belova.
And now we know that two other characters that had been widely rumored as being in the film, are actually in it. The first was Alexei Shostakov, a character who, in the comics, was the Silver Age Red Guardian and also happens to have been Natasha Romanoff’s husband. That is David Harbour’s role. It’s unclear if he’ll become the Red Guardian– basically, a Soviet version of Captain America– in the movie.
Now it has been confirmed that another character that was rumored to be in ‘Black Widow’, the Taskmaster has been confirmed. Apparently, for those in attendance, some footage was actually shown, introducing the film version of this character. Now we have an official image of concept art of Black Widow fighting the Taskmaster:
Debuting in 1980’s ‘The Avengers’ #195, the Taskmaster possesses “photographic reflexes” which allow him to copy the fighting style and other physical skills of anyone, including Captain America’s hand-to-hand prowess and shield-slinging, Hawkeye’s archery, and more. He is usually depicted as a villain, and his major role is that of a trainer, whipping henchmen into fighting shape for criminal masterminds and evil organizations like AIM and Hydra. But at other times, he has been depicted as an antihero.
This is just speculation on my part, but if it’s true, I guess it could be a SPOILER, but presumably this is Fagbenle’s role. He is technically playing “Mason,” one of Natasha’s former S.H.I.E.L.D. allies who also happens to have romantic feelings for her. I’m guessing that this is just a front and that he turns out to be the movie’s Big Bad.
If you weren’t present as SDCC, here is a description of the ‘Black Widow’ video that was shown, courtesy of ComicBook.com:
“Footage goes back to the Age of Ultron flashbacks. Cut over to scenes from Avengers, Civil War. She narrates and says she got this family because of it. She’s made mistakes. She betrayed Tony by stopping Black Panther. The Marvel Studios logo plays.”
“BUDAPEST. She goes in a spiral staircase, entering a room with a gun. “I know you know I’m out here,” she said. “Wanna talk like grown ups?” She comes face to face with Pugh’s character and they aim at each other as Pugh backs into a kitchen. They end up in a. fight with their hands, destroying the kitchen. Black Widow tries to hold her down and gag her with a towel but ends up getting tossed over. Cabinets are destroyed. A knife is pulled out.”
“The score is reminscent of the Winter Soldier appearing in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. A magnificent fight follows in the living room as the women end up trying to choke one another out with a curtain. Natasha calls her “sis” and they have a drink. Cut to motorcycle chases. Gun fights. Running through streets. Jumping through windows. “I got red in my ledger. I’d like to wipe it out.” Taskmaster, complete with a logo on a shield and mask takes shots from her and blocks them. The two fight on a bridge at night after a logo plays — they move very similarly.”
