It has been almost a year since Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe came to an end and audiences have been itching to return to the beloved superhero franchise. They will get that chance with Black Widow, set to release in a little less than two months.
According to recent projections by Box Office Pro, the upcoming MCU film is on track to earn between $90-130 million at the domestic box office on its opening weekend. This is far from the largest opening for a Marvel Studios film.
For comparison, that title goes to Avengers: Endgame, which earned $350 million domestically in its opening weekend. In terms of solo films, Black Widow's projected opening is comparable to Spider-Man: Homecoming and Captain Marvel, which earned a healthy $117 million and $153 million, respectively.
While Black Widow kicks off Phase 4 of the MCU, the film takes place some time after the events of 2016's Captain America: Civil War. There is speculation regarding the likelihood of Black Widow bringing its titular character back to life after she met her end on Vormir in Avengers: Endgame.
Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, O-T Fagbenle as Rick Mason and Rachel Weisz as Melina. The film arrives in theaters May 1.