Rumor: Black Widow to be Marvel Studios first R rated film

The upcoming standalone BLACK WIDOW movie will reportedly be Marvel's very first R rated film.

Based on the comic book character created by Don Rico, Don Heck and Stan Lee, the new Marvel Studios film is to be penned by Jac Schaeffer and directed by Cate Shortland. Starring Scarlet Johansson as Natasha Romanova herself, it looks like the project is slowly but surely coming together. Now, with the latest rumor circulating, it appears as though the former KGB agent will not only finally be getting her chance to shine in the spotlight, but might also serve as a gamechanger as well.

According to the Hollywood gossip site Crazy Days and Nights, Marvel is moving forward with their plan to make BLACK WIDOW their first R rated film. Given the subject matter the character deals with, which includes high-stakes espionage and international assassinations, Johansson's WIDOW may be the perfect testing ground for some darker subject material. The movie has yet to be officially announced, but given that the contracts for Shortland and Schaeffer are already public knowledge, it wouldn't be too surprising if Marvel Studios decides to experiment with a movie that's a little less kid-friendly, especially considering the recent success of films like LOGAN and DEADPOOL. 

According to the infamous gossip rag, "if the experiment goes horribly wrong they have a woman to blame for it which is what this studio wanted". Whether or not their speculations are accurate is to be seen as time goes on. As of now, there is no release date set in stone, but supposedly BLACK WIDOW will hit theaters sometime in 2020.

Stay tuned in to JoBlo for more updates as the situation progresses.