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Avengers: Age of Ultron
Captain America: CivilWar
C
aptain America: Civil War
features the return of Marvel
favourites Steve Rogers, Tony
Stark, and Scarlett Johansson’s catsuit-
clad Black Widow. Just like her Russian
spy alter ego, Johansson conducts her
private life with stealth-like secrecy,
and since she married her French beau
Romain Dauriac and became a mother
to 18-month-old daughter Rose, she
has become even more elusive. But
Civil War
sees her back in the spotlight
in what promises to be the darkest
instalment yet in the Marvel universe.
“The process of making this film
is different than even making
The
Avengers
. The Russos have a different
way of working than any other director,”
explains the 31-year-old, referring to
Anthony and Joe Russo, who also
directed
Captain America: Winter
Soldier
in 2014. “With this film, I think
we have the added challenge
of looking towards whatever
the next steps are for these
characters.”
Civil War
is set one year after
the events of
Avengers: Age of
Ultron
and features the squad
in another international incident
that results in collateral damage,
prompting politicians to form
a system of accountability and
a governing body to control
the team. This results in the
fracturing of the Avengers into
two opposing factions; one led
by Tony Stark and another that
includes Captain America.
For Johansson’s character
in particular, this division causes
problems, as her head is with Stark but
her heart remains with her old friend
the Cap. The benefit of the returning
directors, she says, is that they have
a particular soft spot for the
relationship between Captain
America and Black Widow,
allowing it to blossom
throughout the franchise.
Aside from the emotional demands
of the role, filming was also extremely
physical, with its rollercoaster of stunts,
fights, and hand-to-hand combat. But
Johansson, having starred in so
many action films, wasn’t daunted
by the prospect, saying she
tries to maintain a certain level
of fitness and is used to the
rigorous training regimes. She
has also worked extensively
with her stunt double, Heidi
Moneymaker, over the years
and says the gymnast-turned-
stuntwoman acts as a workout
buddy and mentor.
“I try everything and Heidi will tell
me I’m doing a double back bend and
I won’t be able to do that,” admits the
star, “I’m pretty physically active in my
life so I know where my limitations
are. Sometimes I try things and it just
doesn’t work.”
Whilst it’s sometimes hard to believe
Johansson is a mere mortal, you have
to wonder if playing a superhero ever
makes her wish she possessed any of
her character’s super powers.
“Just her ability to kill with her
thighs, that’s about it!” she laughs.
The process of making
this film is different
than even making
The Avengers
•
Captain
America:
Civil War
is out now on DVD
and Blu-ray