Florence Pugh Reflects on Missing Scarlett Johansson Ahead of Thunderbolts Release

LOS ANGELES, CA – As the press tour approaches the release of Marvel‘s Thunderbolts on May 2, actress Florence Pugh shares her feelings about her co-star Scarlett Johansson‘s absence. Pugh, who plays Yelena Belova, joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2021’s Black Widow as Natasha Romanoff‘s heir, stepping into a role filled with complexity following Johansson’s poignant character exit.

“My whole journey with Marvel was because of Scarlett trusting me and wanting me to join her movie six years ago,” Pugh told The Hollywood Reporter. “I always miss her presence. It was such a mean thing that Black Widow was the first and the last time I would get to experience this world with her.”

In Black Widow, Yelena and Natasha, played by Johansson, share a brief past as sisters. Their bond adds depth to Yelena’s struggles as she deals with her sister’s loss. Pugh notes that she hopes Johansson is proud of her work in Thunderbolts.

Meanwhile, David Harbour, who plays Alexei Shostakov, also expressed curiosity about the fate of his character’s partner, Melina, portrayed by Rachel Weisz. “I’ve talked to Marvel people about Melina, and I think there’s still very much potential for her,” Harbour stated, referencing an intimate cut scene from Black Widow.

Eager fans can also look forward to the action sequence that features Pugh performing a stunt off Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world. “When it got taken out, that was when I really got sassy,” Pugh recalled, revealing that the jump was initially scripted before her fervent push for its restoration, inspired in part by Tom Cruise‘s daring stunts.

Harbour, who has recently been busy filming Stranger Things and other projects, is grateful for how Disney and Netflix collaborated to accommodate his schedule. “I do love all the projects, and I’m not very good at turning things down,” he said.

As excitement builds for Thunderbolts, fans can expect a thrilling mix of action and emotion, along with heartfelt references to the beloved characters from the MCU.