Lionsgate Drops Marvel's Black Widow

Posted on June 7, 2006

IGN is reporting that Lionsgate has dropped plans to make a film based on Marvel Comics' Black Widow. IGN says the studio decision was said to have been based on the "less than stellar box office results for other recent female-driven action films."

IGN sought comment on this from the film's writer-director, David Hayter, who confirmed the bad news. Hayter told IGN that after Lionsgate dropped Black Widow, "Marvel and I then spoke to a few other financing entities, but I never felt comfortable that we had found a place that was willing to take the movie, and the character, seriously."

He continued, "I have put it aside until a reputable studio comes along, but in the meantime, I am heartbroken. I love this character, I love the story/world we came up with for her, and I sincerely hope the movie gets done some day. In the meantime, I am creating an original feature to shoot next year."

It is a shame that the film has been dropped. Recent comic films with female leads like Elektra, Catwoman and Aeon Flux may not have been Hollywood blockbusters but they were all very entertaining films.

---