One can connect the name Natasha Romanoff with Black Widow, but what happens when you hear the name Natalie Rushman? Is there a connection between the two, or are they completely different individuals with some phonetic similarities in their terms?
Well, if you want to know about Natalie Rushman, the plot of Black Widow, Natalie’s link with Natasha, and such interesting information, this is the article you should stop by.
What does Black Widow mean?
Let’s first begin by understanding the meaning of Black Widow.
What does a Black Widow mean? Here, you will get two answers. One will quench your rational self, while the other will satisfy your literary self.
Originally black widow meant a killer spider with a black body and red marks. But, Black Widow is also a metaphorical term for those female assassins who kills more than one lover. The term also applies to suicide bombers.
See, an Aristotelian sense of tragedy is already present in the layers of the name itself. Then join us in this cathartic journey of peeling those layers off the Black Widow’s mind, body, and soul.
Leaving aside the philosophical intimation, fans seem eager to know about Black Widow and her link with Natalie Rushman, and rightfully so. Thus, before jumping into the adventure-packed superhero drama film, let’s give a brief background to its formation.
A brief background
While Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings mark the 25th and Eternals mark the 26th film, Black Widow is the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Released in 2021, this is an American superhero film. Marvel Studios is the film producer, and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed the same.
Under the skillful direction of Cate Shortland and the sharp screenplay of Eric Pearson, Black Widow successfully captured the hearts of the audiences.
It is an adventure drama and brilliantly showcases the friendships and bonds between members of the family and outside.
While Romanoff, the Black Widow, is a fugitive, she forcefully comes to terms with her past to keep going.
The film’s brilliant cast has turned Black Widow more enigmatic than it already was. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz, Ray Winstone, William Hurt, Olga Kurylenko, and O-T Fagbenle. David Harbour, and Florence Pugh.
Development of the film
The initiation
When was the idea of making a film out of Black Widow conceived? Black Widow is one of the best assassins in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She first appears in Iron Man 2.
Here, she uses a different alibi than Natalie Romanoff. Natalie Rushman Iron Man 2 is Natalie Romanoff or Black Widow in disguise. Thus, as the character had so many layers, thus conceiving an entire film out of it was always on the producers’ minds.
As early as 2004, film production studios such as Lionsgate Films had their eyes on the comics. Here David Hayter was supposed to direct and write the film.
However, in 2006, Marvel Studios took the film rights to the character. Johansson started appearing in character in 2010 in Iron Man 2. Since then, the makers decided to make a film based on the solo life story of Black Widow.
The completion
Hence, in late 2017, the development of the film began. 2018 marked the date when Cate Shortland got his appointment as the director. A short inside story before Pearson, Ned Benson, and Jac Schaeffer also contributed to the screenwriting.
Finally, the film was shot from May to October in Morocco, Budapest, Pinewood Studios, Norway, Georgia, Rome, Macon, and Atlanta.
Due to Covid, the film’s release was delayed twice in theatres and once on Disney. This is the film that was simultaneously released in theatres as well as in Disney+ for subscribers having Premier Access.
Scarlett Johansson even filed a lawsuit for the simultaneous release. She contended that the movie was supposed to enjoy an exclusive theatrical release for some days.
Disney reverted, saying it was a disregard for the terrible loss that the pandemic had ensued. The lawsuit went on for two months. However, it was finally settled, and the terms were undisclosed.
But this is the primary reason why Shang-Chi and Eternals were not released simultaneously on Disney+. They enjoyed a 45-day exclusive theatrical release.
Plot
Now that we have talked extensively about where to watch Black Widow let’s talk a little about the plot and the cast.
The Beginning
The film starts in 1995 when we see Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff make a make-shift family while on their undercover mission as Russian agents. Yelena Belova and Natasha Romanoff are their daughters.
The couple steals sensitive information from S.H.I.E.L.D., a crucial governmental agency in Marvel Cinematic Universe. They escape to Cuba, where Romanoff and Belova are under training from General Dreykov in Red Room.
Later we see Shostakov behind bars, and his daughters become very successful assassins. Following his father, Romanoff also infiltrates S.H.I.E.L.D. after he helped Clint Barton to bomb the Budapest office of Dreykov. She believes the incident to have killed Dreykov along with his daughter Antonia.
The middle
Cut to 2016, where we see Romanoff is on the run and violated Sokovia Accords, a legal treaty in the MCU. Romanoff flies to a Norway safehouse that Rick Mason supplied.
In the meantime, Belova is also not sitting silently. She kills a rogue Natalie Rushman, aka Black Widow, when she activates a synthetic gas that has the power to neutralize the mind control agent of the Red Room. She also sends the antidote to Romanoff, hoping they can free the Widows.
However, when Romanoff is on the move in her car with the vials, Red Room agent Taskmaster attacks the vehicle she is in. But Romanoff dodges the attack but realizes that the vials’ origin is Budapest.
There she unites with Belova, who reveals that Dreykov is not dead and Red Room is also not inactive. After evading an attack from Taskmaster and Black Widows, they board a helicopter that Mason provided and escape the scene.
Climax
They then release Shostakov, and the latter gives them the location of Vostokoff in Saint Petersburg, where she was refining another mind control process. Even though she flipped sides initially, Romanoff managed to convince her.
Using face mask technology, they switch places, While Vostokoff frees Belova and Shostakov, Dreykov reveals Romanoff’s disguise. He also says Taskmaster is none other than Antonia, who has suffered irreparable brain damage. Hence, he made her into a perfect soldier.
Romanoff cannot attack Dreykov due to her pheromone lock, but even though he manages to break free, he cannot defeat Dreykov.
Meanwhile, the other three lock Taskmaster while Dreykov escapes and other Black Widows attack Romanoff. But Belova releases the antidote. Romanoff destroys Dreykov’s office and retrieves antidote vials. Taskmaster is freed, Shostakov and Vostokoff escape, and Belova kills Dreykov.
Romanoff also frees Taskmaster by applying the antidote vial. Belova gets the other one which she uses to free the other widows. Thus, Shostakov, Vestokoff, and Belova leave with freed widows and Antonia. After two weeks, Romanoff uses Mason’s Quinjet to free the other imprisoned Avengers.
The post-credits scene is always a surprise. The premise of Romanoff’s death is that Fontaine blames Barton for her death. Belova’s next target is Barton!
So, this action-bound film indeed calls out the question of when is Black Widow free on Disney Plus.
Black Widow cast
No film can attain its greatness if the actors aren’t great. Black Widow reigns in the highest realm in that regard.
Natasha Romanoff
The dreamy-eyed Scarlett Johansson from Lost in Translation underwent an immense mental transformation to portray the fierce Romanoff in Black Widow. Johansson was even more interested in performing the role as it evokes the sense of an independent woman.
Ever Anderson plays the role of the younger Romanoff. She trained in gymnastics, which contributed a lot to her character.
It is funny how we never realized that she is also Natalie Rushman from Iron Man 2.
Yelena Belova
Another beloved character from Black Widow is Belova. Sister to Romanoff, she also got the training of Black Widow. Florence Pugh portrayed her character, who was in awe of the character’s determination and spirit. Pugh was also seeking some mentorship from Johansson.
The two characters might remind you of the sister dynamic between Fleabag and Claire in the British TV series Fleabag.
Alexei Shostakov
Those unfamiliar with MCU might know David Harbour from his empathetic cast in Stranger Things as the Hawkins sheriff.
In a similar vein, Alexei Shostakov is a character that the fans will love. He is a super-soldier and the paternal figure to Belova and Romanoff. In Harbour’s interpretation, Shostakov was a flawed character. But, the stance she takes toward his daughters wins the heart of the millennials.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s performance in The Savages and Ricky Gervais in The Office inspired Harbour’s portrayal of the character.
Rick Mason
Rick Mason is an ally of Romanoff who helps the latter to escape. As one can very well understand, he is romantically inclined toward Romanoff. However, the film didn’t explore that side. O-T Fagbenle portrayed the character of Mason. He kept Pearson’s script and discussed it with Johansson and Shortland to develop the backstory of the essence.
Taskmaster
Usually hidden behind the masks. Finally, we know that the Taskmaster was Antonia, Dreykov’s younger daughter. Olga Kurylenko plays the character. They employed many body doubles to portray the character as it had many stunts. Kurylenko’s take on the character was empathetic, whom she described as a troubled soul. Ryan Kiera plays a young Antonia.
Dreykov
Ray Winstone plays the character of Dreykov, the head of Red Room and the film’s main antagonist.
Melina Vostokoff
Rachel Weisz plays the role of Melina Vostokoff. Weisz was amused by the layered characterization of Vostokoff in the film and worked hard to make it real!
Final Thoughts
So, emotion, adventure, and humor are the three elements that one looks for in a Marvel film. Black Widow has it all. You have also understood the link between Natalie Rushman and Natasha Romanoff. So, if that excites you, what better way to channel your adrenaline rush than to watch the movie on your Disney Plus account?
