The Marvel star Scarlett calls out Academy for ignoring Avengers: Endgame, questions Bond tribute at 2025 Oscars, and reflects on why she won’t return as Black Widow.
Scarlett Johansson has no love lost for the Academy Awards this year — and she’s not holding back.
In a candid interview with Vanity Fair ahead of her Cannes directorial debut Eleanor the Great, the Oscar-nominated actress expressed frustration over Avengers: Endgame being overlooked by the Academy in 2019, particularly in the Best Picture category.
“How did this film not get nominated for an Oscar?” Johansson asked. “It was an impossible movie that should not have worked, that really works as a film — and also, it’s one of the most successful films of all time.” The Marvel blockbuster, despite smashing box office records and concluding a decade-long saga, earned just one nod for visual effects.
For Johansson, Endgame was a milestone — her character Black Widow died in the film, bringing a poignant close to her arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While she later reprised the role in the 2021 prequel Black Widow, the actress has no desire to return to the franchise.
“It would be very hard for me to understand in what capacity [returning] would make sense,” she said. “What works about the character is that her story is complete. I don’t want to mess with that. For fans, too — it’s important for them.”
Still, Johansson did attend the 2025 Oscars as a presenter, alongside Eleanor the Great star June Squibb. But she didn’t hesitate to criticize the show’s excessive length.
“Why was it so long?” Johansson questioned, later adding, “Movies are so long now — they’re too long. Don’t you think so? It feels like a chore.”
When asked if the show’s James Bond tribute contributed to the bloated runtime, Johansson replied with a pointed “No comment.” She added, “It felt like an ad placement. What a weird thing. People were like, ‘What the hell was that?’”
The segment — which featured performances from Raye, Lisa, and Doja Cat, along with a dance routine by actress Margaret Qualley — was widely mocked by viewers. Some performers, like Raye, even defended themselves publicly. “I tried my very best,” the British singer said at the time.
Johansson’s next acting role will be in Jurassic World Rebirth, due this summer, while Eleanor the Great premieres at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.