In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Florence Pugh rocking a many-pocketed vest and poking fun at Natasha Romanoff’s “superhero landing.”
But according to behind-the-scenes reports that are resurfacing online, the role of Yelena Belova—the spunky, younger “sister” to Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow—almost went to Harry Potter alum Emma Watson.
While fans have embraced Pugh’s portrayal for its perfect blend of heart, sass, and raw physicality, Watson’s version of the Russian assassin would have likely brought a completely different energy to the Red Room.
Back in , rumors swirled that Watson was the front runner for a lead role described at the time as a “kick-ass female Bond.”
While Pugh eventually landed the part, the fact that Watson was so high on Marvel’s list suggests the studio was originally open to a much more mature and perhaps refined interpretation of Yelena.
One of the biggest differences would have been the action. Pugh, who came into the MCU with experience playing a professional wrestler in Fighting with My Family, brought a gritty, brawling style to her fight scenes.
Watson, on the other hand, has historically gravitated toward dramatic roles rather than high-octane action. Outside of a hilarious, axe-swinging cameo as herself in This Is the End, the -year-old star hasn’t spent much time in the “combat” lane.
However, fans on social media have pointed out that Watson’s background in dance and choreography—seen in films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower—might have translated into a more “graceful” and calculated fighting style for the elite spy.
The best way to envision the contrast might be to look at the film Little Women, where both actresses starred as sisters.
Pugh’s Amy March was defined by a certain scene-stealing petulance and childish charm—traits she seamlessly moved into Yelena’s character to provide comic relief against the serious Natasha Romanoff.
Watson’s Meg March, conversely, was the poised older sister obsessed with the finer things. Had Watson stepped into Yelena’s combat boots, we likely would have seen a more grounded, serious version of the character with significantly fewer jokes about pockets.
The “sisterly” chemistry would have changed, too. Much of the film’s charm came from an organic, real-world joke between Johansson and Pugh that actually made it into the final script.
While Watson’s Yelena remains one of the MCU’s most fascinating “what ifs,” fans aren’t complaining. Pugh has already become a viral sensation on TikTok and X (Twitter), with her post-credit scenes setting up a massive future in the franchise.
Still, we can’t help but wonder: would Emma Watson’s Yelena have been just as obsessed with that green vest?
Would you like me to look into which other A-listers were reportedly in the running for the ‘Black Widow’ cast?
