In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is hard to imagine anyone other than Florence Pugh rocking a multi-pocketed tactical vest and making us laugh with her blunt delivery.
But according to behind-the-scenes reports, the role of Natasha Romanoff’s witty “sister” almost belonged to a different British superstar: Emma Watson.
Before Black Widow began production in , the Harry Potter alum was reportedly the top choice for director Cate Shortland and Marvel bigwigs Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum.
With Watson’s impressive resume—including her turn as Belle in Beauty and the Beast and her role in Little Women—she would have undoubtedly brought a sophisticated, “female Bond” energy to the Red Room graduate.
However, the tide turned when Shortland met with Marvel executives to discuss her vision for the film.
While the director was already a massive fan of Pugh’s work in Lady Macbeth, it was actually a very different role that caught the producers’ attention.
Marvel executives were reportedly blown away by Pugh’s performance in the film Fighting with My Family, where she played real-life WWE wrestler Paige.
That role proved Pugh could handle the intense, physically demanding stunt work required for a Marvel superhero while maintaining a charismatic, grounded screen presence.
Shortland also had a hunch that Pugh’s energy would perfectly mirror that of Scarlett Johansson. Since the heart of Black Widow relied on the bickering, emotional sibling dynamic between Natasha and Yelena, that chemistry was non-negotiable.
Pugh’s background in dance and athletics didn’t hurt either, as it allowed her to perform the majority of her own grueling stunts.
Despite the stiff competition—which reportedly included other A-listers like Saoirse Ronan—Pugh officially nabbed the part, but she made sure to stay true to herself once she arrived on set.
A known advocate for body positivity, Pugh famously set ground rules regarding her fitness and diet, even bringing her own homemade food to set to avoid Hollywood’s often unrealistic beauty standards.
Fan response to Pugh’s casting has been overwhelmingly positive since the film’s release, with TikTok and X users frequently sharing clips of her “iconic” comedic timing.
“I love Emma Watson, but Florence Pugh is Yelena,” one fan recently shared on social media. “The sarcasm is just unmatched.”
While we’ll never know exactly what Watson’s version of the character would have looked like, it’s clear that Pugh has carved out a permanent place in the hearts of MCU fans.
Following her debut, Yelena has already made waves in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, and her journey in the Marvel universe is only just beginning.
Would you like me to look into which other actors were almost cast as your favorite Avengers?
