“I’d end up in court”: Scarlett Johansson’s Co-star Wanted to Quit His MCU Role When Studio Asked Him For Reshoots
Marvel Studios are notoriously known for their airtight contracts that hinder actors from speaking about their projects or quitting the movie since it affects the bigger picture plans of the studio. Whether it’s not disclosing scripts or keeping a character’s role under wraps, suspense and ambiguity are Marvel’s production cornerstones. Many actors have even spoken against the stringent measures at Marvel. The newest addition to the list is veteran actor Ray Winstone who was seen in Black Widow.
Villain in Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow calls Experience with Marvel “Soul Destroying”
Ray Winstone played the central antagonist in the 2021 Scarlett Johansson-starrer Black Widow, a Russian general called Dreykov. He is the one responsible for Natasha Romanoff becoming Black Widow via the Red Room. When Romanoff learns Dreykov is alive and still running operations at the Red Room, she goes after him to free other women.
In a recent interview with Radio Times Magazine, Winstone opened up about his experience on set with Marvel. Frustrated with reshoots and tiring schedules, he wanted to quit the project altogether, but his stringent contract prohibited him from doing so. What’s more, he felt confident in his overpowering and menacing role against Scarlett Johansson’s heroic Romanoff, but when the producers asked him to tone down his acting, he was left disappointed. He expressed,
“It was fine until you have to do the reshoots. Then you find out that a few producers have come down, and your performance is too much, it’s too strong… That’s the way Marvel works. It can be soul-destroying because you feel like you’re doing great work. I actually said, ‘You ought to recast it because that was it for me.’ And you end up doing it again because you’re contracted to do it. Otherwise, you end up in court. It’s like being kicked in the balls.”
Winstone is not the first actor to point out issues with working with Marvel Studios. Anthony Hopkins highlighted how pointless it was to act in front of a green screen, feeling like he was squandering his talents. On the other hand, Terrence Howard revealed how he was let go from Iron Man after refusing to reduce his salary. Even Idris Elba addressed the issues he faced while being in uncomfortable costumes for hours.
Ray Winstone’s Upcoming Projects
Even without Marvel, Ray Winstone is making headway in his career presently as he is set to appear in two high-profile projects this year. The first one is Damsel starring Millie Bobby Brown, where he plays the former’s father. He will also be seen in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, a spinoff movie to premiere on Netflix. Winstone will be playing a drug lord in the movie and has nothing but appreciation for Ritchie as a director. He said,
“He’s pretty clear what he wants. Then he changes his mind! He does that all the time, by all accounts. But as long as you’re up to speed and you know what you’re doing, then it’s easy to change. If you ain’t done your homework, then you’re f***ed. Because he’s a very clever boy.”
Winstone has been in the industry for fifty long years with significant experience in movies, television shows, and even stage productions. The veteran actor is known for the serious roles he has undertaken with visionary directors across Hollywood. His voice of gravitas and his ability to portray menacing roles with ease set him apart from the rest of the actors in the industry.
