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.
5 Should Have: Black Widow Could Have Been Michelle Trachtenberg's Comeback
Well, it looks like there's another Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor on this list. But this time, she's Buffy's little sister, Dawn, and not her enemy, Faith. Although we're happy that Scarlett Johansson ultimately snagged the role, Michelle Trachtenberg would have been an interesting pick. She also speaks Russian, which would have come in handy.
4 Almost Did: Jessica Biel Was One Of Marvel's Top Picks
Jessica Biel would have done Black Widow justice. She was selected to audition for the role and casting agents had high hopes for the actor. Unfortunately, her audition wasn't up to par with what the casting director had in mind. In the end, Jessica's lack of combat skills could have been a factor.
3 Should Have: Kate Mara Would Rock The Black Widow Look
Just like Jessica Alba, Kate Mara already tried her hand in the MCU as Sue Storm aka. Invisible Woman. But while Kate delivered a great performance, Fantastic Four received terrible reviews. It isn't hard to picture Kate Mara as Black Widow, but it is hard to picture Black Widow as anyone else but Scarlett Johansson.
2 Almost Did: Natalie Portman Would Have Been Cast If She Wasn't Already In The MCU As Jane Foster
Natalie Portman was born in Israel. But that never stopped her from becoming America's Sweetheart. She was heavily considered for the role of Black Widow. Luckily, Natalie wasn't chosen to play the Avenger and soon enough, she was cast as Jane Foster in Thor. Still, it would have been fun to see her take on the part.
1 Should Have: Russian-Speaking Kate Beckinsale Totally Looks The Part
Not only does Kate Beckinsale speak fluent Russian, but she's also used to starring in action-packed movies. She has proven this many times over by starring as Selene in the Underworld movies. Kate should have been considered for the role, but wasn't. She would have kicked Black Widow into gear.