Written by Edwin Francisco
Lucasfilm eyes Scarlett Johansson for a new Star Wars project.
Certainly Scarlett Johansson had issues with Disney’s simultaneous theatrical and streaming release for Black Widow. However, both parties settled the issue. In other words, it’s time to move forward.
According to a new report, Disney doesn’t want to let Scarlett Johansson go. Is Black Widow going to a galaxy far, far away?
The leak reveals Lucasfilm’s desire for Scarlett Johansson to appear in Star Wars. No news if it’s a movie or a series. Given the Black Widow controversy, it’s likely theatrical. After all, Scarlett Johansson is a box-office draw.
In addition, she wouldn’t be the first actor to jump between the Disney IPs.
Oscar Isaac was Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequels; he leaped to the MCU as Moon Knight. Natalie Portman, the prequels’ Padmé Amidala, is Jane Foster in the Thor franchise. Mads Mikkelesen played Jyn Erso’s father in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He was also Kaecillus in Doctor Strange.
Therefore, seeing Scarlett Johannson in a Star Wars film is not impossible.
Scarlett Johansson Eyed For Star Wars Project
Image: Marvel Studios
Even directors and producers from Marvel Studios are also working on Star Wars. We all know Jon Favreau is also in both worlds. He plays Happy Hogan and is the director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Moreover, he also has worked as an executive producer in the MCU films.
Nevertheless, he has his hand in several Star Wars TV shows. Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder is up to direct his own Star Wars film.
With all that said, the question is what project will they work with Scarlett Johansson in mind?
Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy is now focused on making Star Wars films away from the Skywalker Saga. Disney is refocusing their projects and already has delayed or canceled a few. For example, Rian Johnson’s own Star Wars trilogy is on hold. We also haven’t heard of the Lando series for two years now.
Solo: A Star Wars Story came out and had mixed reviews. It seemed that Disney immediately restructured after that movie. Then they put everything on hold and figured things out. Recently, Kennedy blamed it on recasting beloved characters.
But, obviously, there is interest to see the old characters again, as long as it serves a proper story. Fans loved Luke Skywalker’s youthful appearance in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. They used CGI/deepfake technology for Mark Hamill.
Should we trust Kennedy’s word of going away from the original series?
After all, what if Obi-Wan Kenobi is a massive hit on Disney Plus? It has Skywalkers in it, yes?
We’re not buying Kennedy’s claims. Disney won’t ignore the cash flow.
Scarlett Johansson Eyed For Star Wars Project
Image: Lucasfilm
One thing that Star Wars fans are excited about is the Old Republic timeline. The Old Republic takes place thousands of years before Luke Skywalker or even Darth Vader ever existed.
In fact, there are already tons of books, comics and even games related to this timeline. In other words, there is tons of material to work on. And on the plus side, it won’t even bother the Skywalker saga since it’s too far from the timeline to mess things up. It can run independently but within the same universe.
One character we could consider for Scarlett Johansson is Mara Jade.
Jade also has red hair; furthermore, she married Luke Skywalker in the Legends timeline. Lucasfilm is developing an Heir to the Empire film. That’s where Jade debuted in the books. It’s possible there’s a connection.
We have seen that telling a story years after the events of Return of the Jedi still works. We have seen it with The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. This means Lucasfilm can tell a story of another Jedi who has been impacted by the Empire.
A live-action Jade has been talked about for years now. Even Karen Gillian as rumored to take that role.
Nonetheless, there are so many possibilities for Scarlett Johanssen in Star Wars.