Scarlett Johansson may be heading back into the world of capes and crime-fighters — but this time, outside the Marvel universe. After a decade portraying Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actress is reportedly in talks to join The Batman II, the sequel to the 2022 Gotham noir starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Matt Reeves.
Details about Johansson’s potential role remain under wraps. If negotiations are finalized, the film would mark her first return to the superhero genre since concluding her MCU tenure.
Johansson debuted as Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (2010) and went on to appear in several major Marvel titles, including The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Her character’s standalone film, Black Widow (2021), served as a prequel and introduced Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova — marking Johansson’s final MCU appearance to date.
Production on The Batman II is expected to begin in spring 2026, with a theatrical release set for October 2027 — five years after the first film. Pattinson’s debut as Bruce Wayne grossed $772.2 million worldwide. Reeves co-wrote the sequel with screenwriter Mattson Tomlin.
One notable absence from the new cast will be Zoë Kravitz, who portrayed Selina Kyle/Catwoman. According to Variety, Kravitz will not return for the sequel, aligning with the character’s departure to Blüdhaven at the end of the first film.
Johansson’s Upcoming Projects
The actress continues to expand her portfolio beyond superhero franchises. In 2025, Johansson starred in Jurassic World: Rebirth, one of the year’s top box-office performers, earning $868.9 million globally.
Her upcoming slate includes a new Exorcist film directed by Mike Flanagan and Paper Tiger by James Gray. Johansson has also made her directorial debut with Eleanor the Great, which has yet to receive an India release date.