One Main Avenger Could Have A Whole New Look In Avengers 4

We're less than a year away from Avengers: Infinity War from arriving in theaters, and Marvel has wasted no effort in teasing this blockbuster as the biggest entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet. However, it may not hold that title for long, because in 2019, Avengers 4 will follow to conclude the MCU's Phase Three. Marvel is understandably keeping almost all details about Avengers 4 under lock and key, especially now that production is underway. However, it looks like Black Widow, one of the founding Avengers in this continuity, could be rocking a new hairdo in Earth's Mightiest Heroes' fourth outing.

Marvel is looking for an "experienced stand-in" to play a character who is only identified as Mary Lou. The physical attributes listed include appearing Caucasian, being between 5'10-6'0 in height and having either very short hair or being bald. By itself, the listing isn't particularly interesting. However, Scarlett Johansson was recently spotted on the Avengers 4 set with a short red haircut that she kept mostly covered with a hat. So it would seem that this actress being sought after will serve as a stand-in for Johansson, and when Natasha Romanoff returns in Avengers 4 after surviving the events of Avengers: Infinity War, she'll have chopped off most of her locks, making her hair even shorter than the (blonde) style seen in the Infinity War footage from D23.

Along with the list of physical attributes, the stand-in notice found by Omega Underground also mentioned that this actress will be needed for an overnight shoot on August 16. It was reported last month that there is an overnight shoot from August 17-18 on the same set in Atlanta, Georgia that includes extras playing Japanese gangsters (potentially Yakuza) and Japanese cafe patrons, so it wouldn't be surprising if these shoots are connected. If life has gone back to normal for the surviving Marvel heroes in Avengers 4, Black Widow may find herself on some kind of mission in Japan and forced to battle some thugs who get in her way. Why would she be getting into spy shenanigans in Japan? That's hard to say, but even though Natasha Romanoff isn't working for S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore, one can assume that she hasn't ceased all of her stealth activities.

Of course, we don't know for sure whether the stand-in will be for Black Widow. That has been the general consensus from most observers, but given Scarlett Johansson isn't even close to six feet tall and there are other women involved in the Avengers movies, it could easily be someone else. Contrarians are mostly focusing on Nebula as the best option, given she's bald and 5 foot 11 inches tall. That's certainly possible. She's definitely going to be in the movie, though I wouldn't fixate too much on the bald description. Less hair makes it easier to wear a wig, and heights only matter in proportion to other actors. The studio likes keeping secrets close to the vest, and while this isn't a huge one, it's still some information about the upcoming movie.

Black Widow as last seen in Captain America: Civil War, where she originally sided with Tony Stark and the pro-Sokovia Accords superhero team, but later aided Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes in escaping the Leipzig/Halle Airport so they could track down Helmut Zemo. Soon after she went into hiding, and her whereabouts haven't been addressed since. Black Widow will have to emerge from her exile in Avengers: Infinity War to help her superhero allies battle Thanos and the Black Order, and since Scarlett Johansson is on the Avengers 4 set, she'll make it out of the conflict in one piece. Whether or not she'll be similarly fortunate in Avengers 4 remains to be seen.

Avengers 4 opens in theaters on May 3, 2019.