Black Widow may have been a prequel to the current MCU timeline but it also sets up one of the shared universe’s future TV shows. Spoilers ahead.
Black Widow has arrived. The long-awaited Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that gives Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) the spotlighted send-off she deserves has hit movie theaters and Disney Plus Premier Access this weekend and it is certainly well worth the wait.
Set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, the movie reveals what Natasha has been up to since being on the run after the Sokovia Accords debacle. It sees her reconnect with a family from her past and make it her mission to take down the Red Room and its Widow program once and for all.
The film certainly doesn’t mess around as it finally gives Black Widow’s origins the exploration fans have been longing to see. However, it also takes some time to set up the future, focusing on the character of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and what awaits her in the next phase of the MCU.
Black Widow post-credit scene explained: Are the Dark Avengers coming?
After the movie’s primary conclusion, we flash-forward to the present day MCU for a post-credits (and post-Endgame) scene that sees Yelena visit Natasha’s grave. The inscription on the hero’s tombstone reads: “Natasha Romanoff. Daughter. Sister. Avenger.”
As she pays tribute to her sister, Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) shows up, officially crossing the movie over with Disney Plus series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. And if you watched that series, you’ll know that Valentina – a character once referred to as Madame Hydra in the comics – is busy recruiting soldiers like John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) to her cause.
But what is that cause: Dark Avengers or Thunderbolts? We don’t know yet but we do know that Yelena is already a part of said crew and that her next mission involves taking down the man who Valentina claims “killed” Black Widow: Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).
As for when or how that will happen, Florence Pugh is set to reprise her role as Yelena in the upcoming Disney Plus series Hawkeye, so there is a pretty strong chance that she will attempt to execute that mission. The thing is, though, that we know Natasha sacrificed herself on Vormir for her best friend Clint so it goes without saying that she wouldn’t want her sister to do this.
How will two grieving members of Natasha’s two respective families figure this one out when they inevitably cross paths in Hawkeye?
Black Widow is available to watch on Disney Plus Premier Access from today, July 9.
What did you think of Black Widow? Will you be watching Yelena’s return in Hawkeye? Let us know in the comments below!