Scarlett Johansson and co-star Florence Pugh both had pneumonia while filming Black Widow
The highly-anticipated superhero movie Black Widow is landing in theatres and on streaming on Disney+ on July 9.
And in a profile of star Scarlett Johansson in The Gentlewoman this month, the film’s director Cate Shortland revealed the toll four months of shooting in several locations around the globe had on the actress.
Shortland told the outlet that by the end of production, Johansson as well as her co-star Florence Pugh were both ill with pneumonia but carried on filming.
Ill: Scarlett Johansson and co-star Florence Pugh both battled pneumonia while filming Black Widow during a grueling four-month long shoot, director Cate Shortland has revealed
Meanwhile, Johansson, 36, also admitted in the interview that she had been hesitant to take on the Marvel character when approached about starring in 2012’s Avengers.
‘Even the thought of all of us together in our superhero costumes sounded like it was going to be a disaster. Not a disaster, but, like, ‘What is this? What is this?” she told The Gentlewoman.
Nearly a decade later, she’s amassed great wealth thanks to the phenomenal success of the MCU and Avengers franchise and finally got her own MCU vehicle.
‘Yeah, it was exposing,’ Johansson said of carrying the movie. ‘But it was time, you know?’
Coming soon: Johansson reprises the Marvel character for the seventh time in Black Widow, which is landing in theatres and on streaming on Disney+ on July 9 after pandemic delays
Big deal: The actress, 36, admitted to having doubts about taking on the role, pictured left in her debut in 2012, but says it’s about time the superhero got her own standalone movie
Superhero in waiting: British actress Pugh, 25, plays new Black Widow Yelena Belova and is widely tipped among fans to continue in the role for MCU Phase 4
Both she and Shortland say they hope they’ve managed to pull off something a little bit different with Black Widow.
‘She really pushed to make something that wasn’t flimsy or superficial,’ Shortland said of Johansson.
‘She wanted to make something that meant a lot to young people and to women. And she knew it was possibly her last film as Black Widow – she didn’t want to leave Marvel making a feel-good movie.’
Black Widow director Cate Shortland says Johansson ‘really pushed to make something that wasn’t flimsy or superficial… she didn’t want to leave Marvel making a feel-good movie’