Scarlett Johansson Reps Keeping Distance From 'The Avengers 2' Salary Rumors
by Sean Comer
Whatever the rumors, Scarlett Johansson's spokespeople are keeping mum about some outsized rumors concerning her potential "The Avengers 2" payday from Marvel and Disney.
The gorgeous multiple Golden Globe nominee started her relationship with Marvel earning $400,000 for her Black Widow debut in "Iron Man 2." E! News now reports that after the stunning success of this summer's "The Avengers," Marvel and Disney are reportedly ready to offer upward of $20 million for her to return in a sequel.
A bit high for one piece in an ensemble cast already boasting Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Robert Downey Jr. On the other hand, Downey himself reportedly stands to pocket a total nearly $50 million to reprise his Tony Stark/Iron Man role a third time in "The Avengers," compared with reported salaries for the remaining group hovering near $2-3 million.
Downey, though, had the leverage of two prior starring Marvel smashes at hand. Johansson would be earning such a hefty haul after strictly supporting roles, save for her turn this summer. Whatever the rumors, her representatives haven't yet officially addressed what Disney and Marvel are reportedly ready to pass her way for a return engagement.
As E! points out, the tremendous salary bump would make sense. It's not so much that Black Widow herself already has such a tremendous role already fleshed out for the sequel. It probably has more to do with Johansson being the only female superhero - putting aside Cobie Smulders as Nick Fury's right-hand woman Maria Hill, of course - in the third-highest-grossing film of all time with a current $1.45-billion worldwide gross.