Natalia Alianovna Romanova is a woman who goes by many names. You probably know her as Natasha, or Black Widow, or "that crazy Russian chick with red hair." Whatever the case may be, it's easy to see that Black Widow is one of a kind. Her versatility is frightening. Her stone-cold attitude, charming. And each one of her wicked moves more surprising than the one that came before. Black Widow is more than just her name, and she is who she is because of the actor who plays her.
Scarlett Johansson is just as magnificent as the Marvel character she portrays. There's no denying that she's got Natasha down to an art. Still, fans can't help but wonder: What if Marvel had chosen to cast one of the other actors on their list? Truth is, plenty of actors were better suited to play Black Widow than Scarlett Johansson. Still, we're pretty happy with how things worked out.
15 Should Have: TWD's Lauren Cohan Has Already Shown Us How Fierce She Can Be
Lauren Cohan wasn't in the running to become Black Widow, but we can't help but wonder if she would have brought the Marvel character to new heights. Lauren showed us how fierce she could be when she stole our hearts as Maggie Greene on the never-ending apocalyptic TV show The Walking Dead.
14 Almost Did: Angelina Jolie Was A Top Contender For The Role
There's no denying that Angelina Jolie would have done an amazing job at portraying the Avengers' Black Widow. She's showed us how wicked-cool she can be by stepping into Lara Croft's boots and Mrs. Smith's high heels. She was a prime candidate for the role. But alas, things just didn't pan out.
13 Should Have: Mila Kunis Would Have Stolen The Show As Black Widow
Mila Kunis is living proof that good things come in small packages. Just like Black Widow, Mila speaks fluent Russian and English, which would have made getting ready for the role that much easier. Scarlett Johansson's Russian was spot-on, but Mila's would have been authentic. Fans would love to see Mila join the MCU.
12 Almost Did: Emily Blunt Was Approached For The Role, But Turned It Down
Emily Blunt is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. Back when the role of Black Widow was still up for grabs, Emily was approached by MCU executives, who believed she would be perfect for the part. Unfortunately, Emily had to turn the role down because of scheduling conflicts.
11 Should Have: Charlize Theron Is The Stunt Master
Few actors are as dedicated as Charlize Theron. She has proven time and time again that she will go the extra mile for her roles. Charlize is a stunt master, having performed stunts in movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, and Aeon Flux. And let's not forget that Charlize looks amazing as a redhead.
10 Almost Did: Gemma Arterton Was Considered After Emily Blunt
MCU executives scoured their brains for the next best thing after Emily Blunt turned them down. This brought them to Gemma Arterton. She was well-versed in action roles which made her a top contender. Unfortunately, Gemma was unable to take on the role and Scarlett Johansson eventually stole the show.
9 Should Have: Rachel McAdams Would Have Been Perfect If She Wasn't Already In The MCU As Christine Palmer
Rachel McAdams was not considered for the role of Black Widow, but her fans think she would have done an amazing job at portraying the hero. Not only does Rachel look great with red hair, but she's feisty, focused, and determined. It's too bad that she already plays Dr. Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange.
8 Almost Did: Eliza Dushku Thought She Was Perfect For The Role
Eliza Dushku is one badass lady. She's an amazing fighter who starred in both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dollhouse (where she learned to speak Russian). So, when Eliza found out that Emily Blunt was no longer in the running to play Black Widow, she pounced. Ultimately, she didn't get the role.
7 Should Have: Milla Jovovich Was Born To Play Black Widow
There's no denying that Milla Jovovich would have nailed everything from Black Widow's stunts to her accent — she is Russian, after all. Unfortunately, Milla wasn't considered for the role of Black Widow. Resident Evil and Ultraviolet fans would have loved to see Milla don on the Black Widow leather suit.
6 Almost Did: Jessica Alba Was In The Running
Jessica Alba was also in the running to play Black Widow. However, MCU executives couldn't shake the fact that Jessica had already played a Marvel character in the past. She had portrayed the Invisible Woman in the Fantastic Four film back in 2005. Either way, she was a great choice.
