Directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige, Black Widow is a prequel and the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The twenty-fourth film in the MCU follows Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) after the events of after Captain America: Civil War, and before Avengers: Infinity War, where she’s on the run and forced to confront her past.
The movie will introduce a few newcomers to the MCU, and two other “Black Widows” played by Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova and Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff, as well as David Harbour as Red Guardian, a Russian Super-Soldier.
More notably, Black Widow will introduce one of Marvel’s most underrated super-villain (and sometimes anti-hero) – Taskmaster.
Since his first appearance in The Avengers #195 (May 1980), Taskmaster has gone up against some of Marvel’s most notable combatants such as Captain America, Hawkeye, Punisher, Bullseye, Elektra, Iron Fist, Shang-Chi… and won.
His “photographic reflexes” allow Taskmaster to observe and master the moves and skills of others. A skilled martial artist, swordsman, marksman (with guns, bows and shield) Tasky only gets better with each encounter.
The latest Black Widow trailer reveals that he’s already had a run-in with, or observed, a certain Wakandan King.
…aaaaand here’s a Black Widow Legacy featurette.