Black Widow Backstory Was Cut From Captain America: Civil War

After seeing Captain America: Civil War, fans were left wondering how Marvel Studios could one-up the film. The project stunned fans and critics alike with its thrilling story line and ensemble cast – and there’s allegedly several fan-favorite scenes which didn’t get included in its final cut. As confirmed by the Russo Brothers, some scenes were cut in the name of streamlining the film. Obviously, fans are interested in knowing what those scenes contained, and now, the film’s novelization is teasing that one of the scrapped scenes revealed some of Black Widow’s backstory.

Be warned! Spoilers lie ahead!

According to Civil War‘s novelization, a conversation between Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) seems like it was removed from the film. While fans aren’t sure where the dialogue was located originally, some have speculated the scene probably occurred during Peggy Carter’s funeral. If you want to check out the exchange, feel free to read it below:

“Natasha studied Cap’s expression of resolve. Finally, she said, “In Russia, in the Red Room, there were dozens of us. All girls, all young. We lived together. They let us be friends. Then they dropped us in the tundra, two weeks’ walk from home, with just enough supplies for one of us to survive.”

Cap looked at her, understanding her meaning.

“Don’t let them push us into the cold,” she said.”

It’s easy to see the parallels between Natasha’s revelation and the Avengers’ in-fighting. Threatened by the Sokovia Accords, the heroes are thrust into opposing sides which battle against one another in a civil war that will leave them all worse off. And, unsurprisingly, Natasha wants to avoid being pitted against her friends in yet another fight for survival.

As for why the Russo Brothers (or Marvel) elected to omit this conversation, the possibilities are endless. The decision might have come down to Civil War‘s run-time, but fans are hoping the bit was removed so it could be reused in a solo Black Widow project. However, fans aren’t sure why the lines had to be cut in that case. After all, the scene would’ve done a lot to whet viewers’ appetite for a standalone Black Widow movie.

So, for now, fans can satisfy their cravings by defaulting to the collection of pre-existing scenes which depict Black Widow’s backstory. Most famously, Joss Whedon alluded to Natasha’s past in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The scenes contain references to Natasha’s time with the Red Room, but the film’s overall depiction of Black Widow’s backstory left some fans enraged. Much of the controversy derived from a conversation between Natasha and Bruce Banner where she told him about her past, explaining:

“In the Red Room, where I was trained, where I was raised, they have a graduation ceremony. They sterilize you. It’s efficient. One less thing to worry about. The one thing that might matter more than a mission. Makes everything easier, even killing. You still think you’re the only monster on the team?”

Some fans interpreted the scene as one which directly compared childless women to monsters, and they balked at the idea that infertility made Natasha a more efficient murderer. Others, however, said the scene simply highlighted the dehumanizing choices Natasha made as a Red Room operative. For those viewers, Natasha questioning her status as a ‘monster’ came about because of her decisions – not her infertility. Either way, the scene created a wave of backlash as fans either lamented or championed Natasha’s characterization.

Whether or not you think this missing Civil War scene suits Natasha better than its Age of Ultron counterparts is up to you. But, either way, it’s interesting to know the Russo Brothers could have approached Black Widow’s intricately woven backstory. The pair have said they’re interested in undertaking a solo film about the double-agent, and fans seem like they’re on-board with the duo so long as they keep up their good work with Black Widow.

So, what do you guys think? Tell us your thoughts about Black Widow’s missing Civil War scene below!