Actress Scarlett Johansson boasts two Academy Award nominations, yet she remains perplexed about why Avengers: Endgame—where she portrayed Black Widow—received only a single nomination for Visual Effects.
"How did this film not earn more Oscar nominations?" Johansson questioned regarding Marvel's 2019 blockbuster in a recent Vanity Fair interview. "It was an ambitious cinematic feat that shouldn't have worked—yet it succeeded spectacularly as a film while becoming one of history's highest-grossing movies."
While widely regarded as one of the MCU's strongest entries, the Academy historically overlooks superhero films—particularly in major categories like acting and directing. Notably, 2018's Black Panther remains Marvel's sole Best Picture nominee. Johansson's decade-long portrayal of Natasha Romanoff (from Iron Man 2 through Endgame) certainly demonstrated awards-worthy character development.
The actress confirmed to Vanity Fair she likely won't reprise the role: "It's difficult to envision circumstances where returning would meaningfully serve my character's arc."
Every MCU Movie Tier List
Every MCU Movie Tier List
"While I cherish my colleagues and would love collaborating indefinitely, Natasha's story reached its perfect conclusion. I wouldn't compromise that artistic integrity—both for myself and our devoted fans."
Following Black Widow's Endgame sacrifice, Johansson returned for 2021's Black Widow prequel—serving both as star and executive producer—to complete her character's cinematic journey.
