Pugh, Harbour Reflect on Johansson’s Absence Ahead of ‘Thunderbolts’ Release

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — As the cast of Marvel‘s upcoming film *Thunderbolts* wraps up its press tour, Florence Pugh and David Harbour openly discuss their feelings about the absence of Scarlett Johansson, who starred alongside Pugh in the 2021 film *Black Widow*.

Pugh stepped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Yelena Belova, who was introduced as the successor to Johansson’s character, Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow. Johansson’s character met a tragic end in *Avengers: Endgame*, sacrificing herself for the team. Pugh expressed her gratitude toward Johansson for the opportunity and voiced her longing for her mentor’s presence on set. “My whole journey with Marvel was because of Scarlett trusting me and wanting me to join her movie. So I always miss her presence,” Pugh told *The Hollywood Reporter*.

Johansson’s solo film was designed not only to reveal the dynamics between Yelena and Natasha but also to pave the way for Pugh’s character. The two had a backstory that included a childhood spent in Ohio, raised as daughters of Russian spies, Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff.

Harbour, who plays Alexei, shared his own musings on the future of Melina, played by Rachel Weisz. He lamented that the conclusion of *Black Widow* left open questions about their relationship, expressing hope that fans might see more of Weisz’s character in the future. “I think there’s still very much potential for Melina,” he said, referencing deleted scenes that featured a romantic moment between their characters.

Amid discussions of their film, Pugh also revealed her efforts to include an impressive skyscraper stunt in *Thunderbolts*. Originally omitted from the film, Pugh advocated for its return, wanting to perform the daring leap herself from Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka 118, the world’s second-tallest building. “When it got taken out, that was when I really got sassy,” she explained, acknowledging how iconic stunts by Tom Cruise inspired her ambition.

On a lighter note, Harbour addressed the frantic filming schedule that allowed him to juggle roles in *Thunderbolts* and the ongoing *Stranger Things* series. The actor expressed his enthusiasm for all the projects and the collaborative effort of Disney and Netflix, which made dual filming possible.

*Thunderbolts* is slated for release in theaters across the nation on May 2, 2025.