[lordbest]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trivial Psychic

That is a some laughably bad reasoning there. A lot of actors have had very questionable careers until the modern superhero film fell into their laps, and a lot of them haven't been able to make financially successful films unless they are surrounded by spandex and CGI.

Chris Evans has had a bunch of non MCU roles fail miserably at the box office. Nobody will watch a Zoe Saldana film unless she is covered in green makeup or blue CGI. Hollywood had written off RDJ until Iron Man. Not an MCU character, but did anyone care what Ryan Reynolds was doing until Deadpool? Not if you look at his box office receipts. Hugh Jackman couldn't draw unless he was shirtless and waving his metal claws around...but all carry their comic book roles well, and we can't see anyone else in their place.

That doesn't mean that these actors and actresses weren't making good or critically acclaimed though...they just can't draw on their name alone. These days, people are less likely to spend their money on a film that is not part of a franchise or a spectacle, especially with all of the other outlets we have now digitally for film.

Do I think that a Black Widow movie could make money? Yes. Do I want to see a Black Widow movie though? No. She just hasn't been an intriguing character in the MCU thus far, and honestly, I don't think she is a strong enough character to carry a 2 hour film. Then again, I didn't think Ant Man was either (nor do I think Black Panther is...but we shall see on that one...) so the potential to be pleasantly surprised is there. However the character has been so dry and boring to this point, I'd be skeptical. No one has raved about her portrayal of the character thus far in all of the years she has been doing it, and those that have are either Widow fans who are desperate to see their favorite character represented in any fashion, or are Scar Jo fanboys (or girls) who get off on her husky voice and tight fitting outfits in the films.

You also run the risk of relying on Scar Jo's star power alone, which doesn't have a great track record unless she has a strong cast around her. Scar Jo has always been great in a supporting role and has had a lot of success with it. She is not a terrible actress (although "Lucy" was wet garbage on a steaming hot day, and her performance in it was not all that inspiring,) but I don't think she is capable of carrying a film on her own.

Let's be realistic here, while Wonder Woman was a step forward for female lead superhero films, and it is apparent that Hollywood wants to jump on that trend with all the female led superhero films being announced on a seemingly daily basis, let's be real...Black Widow IS NOT Wonder Woman. Not even close.

Only because you seem to have missed the point, given that your post largely makes exactly the point I'm making. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Reynolds etc. were either nobodies or largely unsuccessful male leads, but they were given opportunities to lead superhero films despite that. People are happy to belief they have talent despite their failures. But people seem strangely reluctant to give Johansson, a woman with far more success than most of her male colleagues, that same benefit of the doubt. People assume she has no talent despite her successes.

Like I said, why are people so reluctant to give Johansson (or Gadot prior to WW) the benefit of the doubt, but Evans, RDJ etc get cast in leading roles and no one bats an eye?

It's your prerogative not to want a Black Widow film, of course. But that's really beside the point. There is obvious demand for one, and there is no real reason to argue that Johannson couldn't carry it, not when Marvel were willing to risk hundreds of millions on unknown actors like Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston and so forth.

It's also untrue to say no one has raved about her performance as Black Widow, people did rave about her in Winter Soldier, and people were furious when she was reduced to one dimensional love interest in AoU and largely inconsequential in CW.

I don't even like her as a person, but if Marvel are willing to gamble on Evans/Pratt/Hemsworth/Rudd then arguing for caution when it comes to Johansson leading smacks of sexism more than anything else.

Black Widow isn't Wonder Woman no, but so what? Doctor Strange and Thor had less public profile when their films were announced than Black Widow has now thanks to the MCU.