Ray Winstone Joins Scarlett Johansson in Marvel’s Black Widow

The Departed star Ray Winstone is set to join Scarlett Johansson and the rest of the cast of Marvel’s Black Widow, as Variety first reported.

Winstone will work alongside David Harbour of Stranger Things and Midsommar’s Florence Pugh. Previous reports indicated Rachel Weisz was also circling a role, though Variety today makes no mention of her involvement.

Best-known for the 2004 indie drama Somersault and 2017 mystery Berlin Syndrome, Cate Shortland has been brought on as director, while Jac Schaeffer, who most recently worked this year’s Rebel Wilson- and Anne Hathaway-led comedy The Hustle, will handle the script and the big boss of Marvel, Kevin Feige, will produce.

Johansson first appeared as Black Widow back in 2010’s Iron Man 2, and fans have been pushing for her to have her own origin film, just like every other original Avenger—except for poor Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), that is.

Plot details for Black Widow are still pretty scarce, but it’s expected to follow along with Marvel tradition as an origin story.

Still no news yet on Winstone’s role in the film, either.

Also known for his roles in 2000 crime film Sexy Beast and Darren Aronofsky’s epic Biblical drama Noah, Winstone most recently appeared in 2018’s messy flop of a heist movie King of Thieves, and has also worked on the 2012 fantasy Snow White and the Huntsman and 2011’s Hugo.

You can catch him next in Universal’s forthcoming Cats adaptation, which hits theaters Dec. 20.

Production on Black Widow is now underway in London.