Warning: This story contains FULL SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame!
In order for the Avengers to secure all of the Infinity Stones to complete their “Time Heist,” it was inevitable that one of them would have to trade their life for the Soul Stone on Vormir, and it was Black Widow who chose to pay that price. In a sacrificial act to save her friends and restore the Vanished, Black Widow exchanged her soul so Hawkeye could return to the present with the Soul Stone and reunite with his family once they were resurrected.
But is that really the end of her story, especially considering there’s a Black Widow movie currently in the works? Let’s break it down.
Be sure to check out IGN’s review of Avengers: Endgame!
The Hulk’s Snap
After the Hulk snaps the Vanished back to life, he explains that he tried to also bring Black Widow back to no avail. It seems when a soul is traded for the Soul Stone, it’s a permanent deal that not even the combined Infinity Stones can undo. It’s natural that Bruce Banner would try to resurrect her given their emotional connection, but his efforts were in vain.
What About Captain America Putting the Soul Stone Back?
At the end of the film, Captain America goes back in time to put the Infinity Stones back where they belong in the timeline. That includes returning the Soul Stone to its home on Vormir. (Crazy to think that Cap probably talked to Red Skull when he dropped it in the return slot!) One could theorize that Black Widow’s soul would be released upon returning the Soul Stone, but given there was no hint of this in the movie, it seems Vormir doesn’t do refunds or exchanges.
Could Gamora Replace Black Widow?
It’s also worth considering that after the Soul Stone is put back in 2014, eventually the events of Infinity War will transpire and Thanos will sacrifice Gamora to collect the Soul Stone. If Gamora’s soul is given for the Soul Stone, would that free up Black Widow’s soul? The movie doesn’t offer much clarity on this matter, but the comics explain that the Soul Stone actually contains an entire dimension called the Soul World. We saw Thanos take a short visit there at the end of Infinity War where he was able to briefly commune with Gamora’s soul. In the comics, the Soul Stone actively desires souls and isn’t keen on letting them go, so it’s likely the same rules apply in the film. There’s no “swapping” of souls because the Soul Stone wants to grow its collection, not give them up.
What About Black Widow’s Movie?
Black Widow’s movie is reportedly going to be a prequel set after the events of the first Avengers movie, so even though she’s dead at the end of Endgame, there’s still plenty of story to explore back when she first joined the Avengers. Who knows, we might finally learn what happened in Budapest!
The Black Widow movie is being directed by Cate Shortland with a script by Jac Schaeffer. In addition to Scarlett Johansson reprising the title role, the cast will also reportedly include David Harbour and Florence Pugh in undisclosed roles.
Got more questions about Endgame? We’ve got you covered:
- What’s that clanging sound at the end of Endgame?
- How exactly does all that Endgame time travel work?
- Who was that teenage boy at the end?
And be sure to watch our video explaining the big ending:
Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.
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