This month Scarlett Johansson returns to the big screen as the Black Widow in Avengers: Age Of Ultron, and if a new report is anything to go by she’s being eyed to lead another major franchise. The Tracking Board reveals that Universal is currently in talks to lock down the actress for the lead role in its Creature From The Black Lagoon remake. Jeff Blitz, Gary Ross, Tedi Sarafian and Paul Schering are set to write the script, with Ross, Robin Bissell, Marc Abraham and Eric Newman on board to produce.
The 1954 original directed by Jack Arnold centred around a group of scientists on an Amazonian expedition who discover a mythical man-fish hybrid. Dubbed “gill man” the creature becomes attracted to the group after spotting female scientist Kay Lawrence, played by Julie Adams in the first outing. There’s no word on whether or not the remake will stick to the exact story but if so, it’s likely that Johansson is in contention for that same part.
Universal are currently developing its own interconnected series of films, unofficially dubbed the “Monster-verse” that kickstarted with last year’s Dracula Untold. The second movie within that series is due next June in the shape of Alex Kurtzman’s remake of The Mummy. If the studio is hoping to achieve the same grandiose tapestry of titles as other cinematic universes, Johansson may have to sign on for more than one movie. Bearing that in mind, her obligations to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has her contracted for appearances in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, may throw a spanner in the works.
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