Scarlett Johansson Sparks Buzz with Surprise Marvel Comeback—What It Means for the MCU

Hollywood icon Scarlett Johansson is closing out 2025 with a one-two punch that underlines her box-office power and expanding creative footprint. Industry honor on the California coast On 19 October, Johansson will receive the “Legend & Groundbreaker Award” at the 26th Newport Beach Film Festival. Variety, the event’s presenting partner, calls the accolade a salute to artists whose work “has broken barriers and withstood the test of time.” The festival singled out Johansson’s seamless shift from Marvel megastar to auteur, spotlighting her warmly reviewed directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great,” which earned a six-minute standing ovation at Cannes and currently boasts a 94 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The festival honor arrives as Johansson’s cumulative global ticket sales top $17.7 billion, reaffirming her status as the highest-grossing actor of the century. Disney courts Johansson for ‘Tangled’ villain Just days before the Newport announcement, Deadline revealed that Disney has resumed early development on its live-action remake of “Tangled,” with Johansson in talks to play the scheming Mother Gothel. Michael Gracey (“The Greatest Showman”) remains attached to direct from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s script. If negotiations close, the Oscar nominee would step into a role that blends maternal menace with musical flair—an inventive pivot from her recent heroic turns in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and her poignant performance in Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme.” Given Disney’s billion-dollar track record with modernized classics such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” casting Johansson could turbo-charge audience interest and merchandising potential alike. A banner year in multiple lanes • Director: “Eleanor the Great,” starring June Squibb, expanded nationwide this month via Sony Pictures Classics. • Performer: Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” has roared past $867 million worldwide, securing the No. 3 spot on 2025’s global box-office chart. • Award magnet: Dual Oscar nominations in 2020 (“Marriage Story,” “Jojo Rabbit”) continue to fuel awards-season buzz around her behind-the-camera ambitions. What’s next? Insiders expect Disney to finalize “Tangled” casting before year-end, aiming for a 2027 holiday release window. Meanwhile, Johansson will headline Variety’s Actors to Watch soirée at NBFF, capping a festival season that positions her as both Hollywood legacy and future. Search traffic takeaways Fans are scouring the web for: • “Scarlett Johansson Tangled live action” • “Scarlett Johansson Newport Beach award” • “Eleanor the Great reviews” By uniting these trending touchpoints—prestige recognition, a beloved Disney property, and a lauded directorial debut—Johansson proves she can command headlines across genres and platforms, ensuring her star remains as luminous as ever heading into 2026.