Sheriff Jim Hopper is going from the Upside Down to Marvel.

Stranger Things star David Harbour is set to join the cast of Marvel and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow movie. The Hollywood Reporter had the casting exclusive Wednesday.

Harbour, who will next be seen in Lionsgate’s Hellboy reboot, joins rising actress Florence Pugh in the movie that Marvel fans have been clamoring for since Johansson appeared in the role in 2010’s Iron Man 2. Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland will direct the movie, which aims to start shooting this June in London. In other casting news, Deadline hears that Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz, last seen in The Favourite, is someone Marvel is interested in for a role in the movie. As of press time, no official offer is in the works as the talks are very early days.

Harbour’s character is (obviously) being kept under wraps, but we do know that Natasha Romanoff’s first solo outing will find the super spy on an international adventure. No word yet if the movie takes place before, after, or during her time with the Avengers.

Black Widow movie has been in development for a few years now, and has emerged as a top priority for Marvel Studios as their slate heads into the next phase following the success of their first female-lead superhero movie, the billion-dollar grossing hit Captain Marvel.

While there has been some speculation that Widow’s first movie could find her on an R-rated mission, it’s highly doubtful that the Disney-owned company would put the character in a movie for the 17-and-older crowd. That doesn’t mean Black Widow will be watered down in a PG-13 story or can’t thrive in one. On the contrary, she has excelled and endeared herself to fans in nothing but PG-13 rated adventures in the MCU — especially with Johansson’s scene-stealing turn in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

That sequel proved that there is no doubt Johansson and her iconic character deserve their own franchise, one that has been long overdue.

While Marvel has yet to announce an official release date, the rumor is that Black Widow will land in theaters in May 2020 — just in time to help kick off the summer movie season.

We’re lining up for tickets already.

  • News
  • VIDEOS