Black Widow has recently been released on Disney+ for all subscribers to watch. The film finally gave Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff her own story to explore the past she believed she could leave behind. It introduced us to her extended family with Yelena Belova, Alexei Shostakov, and Melina Vostokoff. It explores this dysfunctional family and how their relationship continued to live on even after they had to flee the United States. It all culminated in one of the most memorable scenes of the entire film, but it seems it almost didn’t make it in.
Director Cate Shortland sat down with Empire to discuss her work on the film and revealed that the famous dinner scene almost didn’t make it into the film. It seems they had a hard time nailing down the dynamic and considered taking it out. Yet, it was Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige who insisted that they keep it in. As she highlights:
He doesn’t give you many directives, he’s very free. But that was a scene he really felt needed to be in the film, and Scarlett and I kept fighting him on it, saying, ‘How will this ever work?’ But it became a very alive thing. You’ve got this bunch of people shipwrecked together, who are still desperately trying to cling onto the roles that they had in Ohio, because that’s all they know. That’s all they have. And it’s beautiful for me
Cate Shortland
Considering it was one of the most emotionally resonant scenes in the film, it was great that Feige pushed for it to make it in. It’s the strange relationship that exists, as they saw each other as a family unit while living in Ohio. It was quickly ripped apart when their secret was uncovered and Alexei’s obsession with fame left a dent in their relationship. Now, they were trying to make amends before they face the Red Room together, as a family. The film might not have been the same without it.
Source: Empire
