Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow’ Adds David Harbour & Florence Pugh; Filming Begins June 3rd in Pinewood Studios

Apr 3, 2019

Marvel Studios’ long-gestating solo movie ‘Black Widow’ has cast David Harbour in an unknown role. Also, Florence Pugh is officially set to play the second female lead, a spy on the same level as Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), likely her moral opposite.

Harbour is popular for his role in the Netflix series ‘Stranger Things,’ which has its third season releasing July 4th. Next, he leads the ‘Hellboy’ reboot, releasing April 12th, as well as the Netflix film ‘Dhaka,’ starring Chris Hemsworth.

Further, a list of actors the studio has interest in for different roles is below:

  • Villain role: (Black British or African actor, age 30-45, “tough, dangerous and mysterious”)
    • André Holland (‘Moonlight,’ ‘High Flying Bird’)
  • Older female role:
    • Rachel Weisz (‘Oz the Great and Powerful,’ ‘The Favourite’)
      • [She is in early talks, as reaffirmed by Variety]
  • Older male role:
    • Sebastian Koch (‘Bridge of Spies,’ ‘Homeland’)
    • Alec Baldwin (‘BlacKkKlansman,’ ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’)
  • Supporting female role: (age 15-25)
    • Camila Mendes (‘The New Romantic,’ ‘Riverdale’)
    • Isabela Moner (‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado,’ ‘Dora the Explorer’)
    • Storm Reid (‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ ‘When They See Us’)
    • Hannah Quinlivan (‘Moon River,’ ‘Skyscraper’)

Reportedly, the casting process for the two older roles will start after the villain role is cast. So perhaps the villain has been cast? Harbour could be the villain if the studio changed their mind on who they wanted for the role. But, he could also be the older male role, or even a character not listed above.

Meanwhile, Cate Shortland (‘Lore,’ ‘Berlin Syndrome’) will direct. The first draft of the screenplay is from Jac Schaeffer (‘Captain Marvel,’ ‘Vision and Scarlet Witch’). Schaeffer wrote the upcoming ‘The Hustle,’ a remake of ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,’ starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. Ned Benson (‘The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby’ trilogy) recently did rewrites on the script.

Additionally, according HN Entertainment, production designer Charles Wood is onboard.

Wood is a frequent Marvel Studios collaborator, with ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ ‘Guardians of The Galaxy,’ ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ ‘Doctor Strange,’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ and the upcoming ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Next, he has ‘Men in Black: International,’ releasing June 14th.

Other crew members include  ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ cinematographer Rob Hardy, seven-time ‘Harry Potter’ costume designer Jany Temime, and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ art director Jim Barr.

We’ve known for some time filming for a Phase 4 movie would begin this June in the United Kingdom. That movie is ‘Black Widow,’ and filming will begin on June 3rd and potentially wrap on October 31st, in Pinewood Studios.

Moreover, pre-production is currently underway in London. Other shooting locations could include Croatia and Miami, Florida.

Marvel Studios has yet to officially announce the release date. However, there is an assumption it will take the May 1st, 2020 spot previously slated by Disney.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and HN Entertainment