The ‘Black Widow’ Movie We Got Was ‘Sanitized’ — ScarJo’s Original Vision Was Much Darker, More Feminist

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It seems that the story portrayed in the “Black Widow” film turned out to be quite distinct from the initial plan for it.

The Message,” a term frequently used by YouTube sensation, The Critical Drinker, is a phrase his viewers are familiar with. It encapsulates the modern cinema’s tendency to suggest that the audience has been raised in an incorrect manner, using their platform to reprimand and guide us towards a more acceptable path.

During this particular time, the #MeToo movement gained momentum, focusing attention on alleged misuses of power within Hollywood and its surrounding circles. Some critics contend that the discourse around these incidents unintentionally portrayed men negatively, which in turn influenced subsequent productions. Marvel’s Black Widow movie mirrored these trends, with subtle references to the Harvey Weinstein scandal being prevalent during its production. Although viewers may have perceived these underlying themes, recent revelations indicate that the original intention was to create an even more intense and explicit narrative around these issues.

The Winstone Interview Revelations

Ray Winstone, who played General Drekov in Black Widow (a character resembling Harvey Weinstein in both actions and appearance), was recently recognized at the Sarajevo Film Festival with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award. This distinction honors his significant contributions to the film industry throughout his career.

During the interview at the festival, he made some thought-provoking remarks regarding his portrayal of Dreykov, offering insights into how deeply ominous the movie’s original vision truly was.

The director of Black Widow, Cate Shortland, advocated strongly for an extremely menacing portrayal of the character.

Winstone described him as a charming rogue flirting with numerous women, who in turn became cunning and deadly like black widow spiders. He added that this behavior earned them admiration on set, making it one of his most satisfying projects in a while.

As a die-hard Marvel fan, I must admit that there was a twist of anticipation tinged with nervousness when the filming concluded and the footage made its way to the editing suite. However, upon viewing the initial cuts, it became evident that something wasn’t quite living up to the Marvel standard. The executives felt compelled to step in and arrange for some additional shooting sessions to ensure the final product would meet our high expectations.

Apparently, I received a call requiring additional filming of all scenes. Initially, I suggested recasting due to the extensive workload, but I was contractually obligated. Upon returning, they styled my hair nicely, dressed me in a suit, and yet, I found myself unable to repeat my performance as I had already done so.”

Winstone seemed disheartened that his initial performance didn’t make it to the final cut. “It’s incredibly disappointing to put effort into something, only for it to be discarded, and then told that it wasn’t good enough,” he lamented.

Cate Shortland, Scarlett Johansson, and #MeToo

In the midst of the #MeToo movement, which gained momentum following the revelation of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein as a real-life antagonist, particularly towards women, Scarlett Johansson and Cate Shortland were instrumental in the creation of the film “Black Widow.” Initially slated for release on May 1st, 2020, the movie’s debut was repeatedly delayed due to lockdowns and closures. This movement significantly influenced their approach to the Black Widow storyline.

According to an interview with Empire Magazine in August 2020, Johansson commented that the film they were discussing mirrored the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements. She felt it would be a mistake if these issues weren’t tackled, and the movie didn’t directly address them. For Cate, she found it crucial to create a film about women supporting other women, offering help in challenging situations. When asked if Natasha was a feminist, Johansson replied that it was evident, suggesting the question itself was rather foolish.

Winstone’s recent interview is confirmation of just how heavy this messaging was intended to be.

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2025-09-05 17:57