Marvel responds to THOSE Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson return rumours

Marvel chief Kevin Feige has addressed the rumours that Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson have been asked to return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Iron Man and Black Widow respectively.

There was a time when any Marvel movie released in cinemas was pretty much a guaranteed success.

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Whether it be the Avengers movies, Black Panther, Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy, billions were being earned at the box office and the critical reception was positive, too.

However, since Avengers: Endgame which acted as the final movie of that particular Avengers saga, the box office has declined and the reviews haven't been as kind.

Movies like The Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings did not meet financial expectations and even features with existing, loved heroes like Thor: Love and Thunder and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania went down like a lead balloon in some quarters.

Marvel has been struggling to recapture the magic they found with the original Avengers team of Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, Hulk and Hawkeye.

And, according to Variety, one plan the studio has is to revive Iron Man and Black Widow in the MCU.

This would prove extremely difficult to do as both Downey Jr and Johansson have previously stated that their time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is over. For Downey Jr to be tempted back, it would need to be for a pay packet in excess of the $25m guaranteed that he was given for Endgame. The actor would go on to make $75m from that movie as he was also due 8% of the profits gained.

According to Feige, no discussions have been had about returns, but he did leave the door open a bit...

"We did not discuss that and that is the truth," Feige told Entertainment Weekly at The Marvels premiere. "We're doing a project with Scarlett. I love Robert, he's part of the family. But in terms of returning, we'll have to see."

It was previously confirmed that Johansson will be doing something again with Marvel, though it is unclear at this point what the project is or even if it involves Black Widow.