Since its introduction inAvengers : Age of Ultron , the family relationship between The Hulk and Black Widow has been a source of argumentation and controversy . It has not been the most democratic relationship introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . With Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff meeting up again inInfinity War , the developments since the 2nd Avengers movie are adding up .

The relationship between the two began as they work together on a kind of failsafe to calm The Hulk down . This was a major part ofAge of Ultron , for better or worse . By the picture show ’s end , The Hulk had set off in the Quinjet and things were left uncertain .

Since Joss Whedon created their relationship , a lot has changed . We ’ve visit both case grow since they part at the end ofAge of Ultron . Widow joined in the superpoweredCivil War , at first fighting by the side of Tony Stark and ending up on the run with Cap and the eternal rest of the rebel Avengers . Meanwhile , The Hulk had made his way out into distant place , on the satellite Sakaar where he joined up with Thor for the event ofRagnarok .

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

To notice their meeting inInifinity War , here areThe Avengers : 15 Crazy Secrets About Black Widow And The Hulk ’s Relationship . mind there are some minor spoilers !

THEY NEVER DATED IN THE COMICS

The MCU ’s Godhead have always had to toy with similarities to the cartoon strip . Fans expect certain relationships and history to diddle out , but the many directors and writers for the movies also have to supply unfermented experiences . For many , the unprecedented relationship between Bruce and Natasha was a huge footstep away from the comic , where the two have very different love interests . In fact , in the funnies there is very lilliputian interaction between the two . This is especially the face for Widow , who has had relationship with two of the other Avengers in the MCU : Hawkeye and Iron Man . For fans for Hawkeye and Widow ’s conjugation in the comics ,

eld of Ultron was a double whammy : not only were viewers introduce to Hulktasha , but   they learned that Clint Barton had an entire cloak-and-dagger fellowship .

Banner ’s comics passion interest have n’t featured much in the   late MCU picture - though his major love interest Betty Ross featured in both The Hulk solo films . Hulk ’s more cosmic adventures have impart him quite a number of relationships with aliens and other beings . Joe Russodefended Whedon ’s going from the comics . He enounce " we do n’t directly translate the comic strip to the picture — why go see the moving picture when you be intimate how it ’s going to end ? And it is n’t a translation . It ’s our version for the MCU . "

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

JOHANSSON CALLS THE TROUBLED PAIR “KINDRED SPIRITS”

During the closet go forAge of Ultron , both Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo serve many questions about the new relationship . In a featurette for the motion picture , Johansson gave some of herviewson the subject . " They both have pasts they ’re not really able to present . It ’s sort of a kindred smell , " she said .

The pic definitely propose to show this , as it filled in a lot more of Black Widow ’s backstory . One of the essence share of Black Widow ’s story roll around the red in her ledger . Similarly , Banner lose ascendancy when he becomes The Hulk and a grown part of his character in the movies and comics is guilt feelings and regret . Both character have also undergo physical and mental transformation to get to the superhuman heroes they are in The Avengers . Both of these transformations have throttle their power to have child , a fact the film focuses on .

In an audience with theLA TimesforAge of Ultron , Whedon revealed another similarity that draw intake from the comics . " [ There was ] a newer comic about Black Widow , and it made the note , “ You ’re not a superhero , you ’re a spy . ” Like the combining of grinder and colossus The Hulk present , Widow balances between the duplicity and risk of a spy and the icon of a superhero . Whedonsuggested both characters are the outsiders of the group , as well as being " ordinary Joes , in a way . "

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

THE SUN’S GETTING REAL LOW IS A REFERENCE

One of the strategies The Avengers have for deal with The Hulk is to try and calm the big guy down . Whether it is purely their human relationship , or some kind of post - hypnotic mesmerism technique , Black Widow and The Hulk have a ritual that helps riposte him back to Banner . The set phrase " The Sunday ’s getting really low " is n’t just a calming prototype .   Whedon desire the calming scene to have as little talking as possible , which paint a picture that this line must be crucial .

Keen - eyed sports fan have spotted that it may be a scriptural character reference . In Ephesians 4:26 , there is a commandment " do not let the sun go down on your angriness . " As that very emotion is what turns Bruce Banner into The Hulk , the point of reference does make a lot of mother wit . Whether this was knowing or not is n’t percipient .

It is n’t the only clever reference in the fashion The Avengers manage The Hulk if he get out of ascendence . When Scarlet Witch sends The Hulk on a rampage , Widow ca n’t tranquillize him down . Instead , Iron Man has to break out " Veronica " , or the Hulkbuster armour . Veronica is named after the Archie comics character , a rival love interest to Archie ’s Betty , who shares a name with Banner ’s comics love interest .

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MARK RUFFALO EXPLAINS THEIR CONNECTION

Mark Ruffalo really likes the relationship between Bruce and Natasha . In press interviews forAge of Ultronhe say " As far as all the superheroes go , they ’re kind of in a unearthly path the most similar and so there ’s a muckle of comfort that they feel in each other . They understand each other . " This explains why the calming technique Widow practice inAge of Ultronworks . " Widow seems to be the only one who can interface with the Hulk , " he said .

InThor : Ragnarok , Thor hilariously test to use " The Dominicus ’s getting real grim " to block up The Hulk , to the point of reiterate it endlessly . Clearly , Thor does n’t have the same connexion to The Hulk , though Widow ’s psychological espionage skill may also be a part of what makes the hypnotic technique study .

Reacting to the rebound against the relationship on Reddit , Ruffalo added some more of his views . " If anything , Black Widow is much strong than Banner . She protect him . She does her job , and basically they begin to have a relationship as friends , " he wrote . According to Ruffalo , Whedon ’s aim was to highlight this as a role strength for Natasha Romanoff . He sure enough sense that their relationship is n’t the problem , but rather that it was the want of female zep in general that made the Romance language become problematic .

widow-hulk

BANNER’S BURNING DESIRE

In the run up toAge of Ultron , Johansson and Ruffalo often founder interview together about their characters . In oneinterview , the two discuss the fact that Mark Ruffalo felt from the very first scenery of them together that Bruce and Natasha would make an interesting couple .

Johansson joking says " Apparently Mark meet it all along , " and she goes on to razz Ruffalo .   " You kind of felt like we had this burning desire from Avengers 1 . " Ruffalo sheepishly tries to deny it , but Johansson does n’t permit him get aside . " You even wanted to name our backstory ' Burning Desire ' . " While it makes Ruffalo audio like an Avengers rooter fiction writer , he replies " Well that ’s true , that ’s definitely lawful . "

He goes on to say that their get together mat authoritative . " I did know when she showed up and she found Banner in the middle of India that something was happening between those two citizenry . "

The troubled pasts of Bruce Banner becoming Hulk and Black Widow in the Red Room

It might explain why Ruffalo still seems to hold a wax light for the couple , as he has been invested in the relationship since his very first Marvel moving picture . He also chalks up not only his alchemy with Johansson ’s character , but the tincture of the picture in general , to great behind the scenes relationships .

MTV GOT A COUPLES COUNSELLOR IN FOR THE PAIR

While the Hulktasha buzz was happening forAge of Ultron , MTVdecided to call in Terry Klee , a professional psychotherapist , to give their horizon on the relationship . She gave a few point about what might make the fictitious couple work . Her main point was that " opposite attract " for the stuttering and shy Bruce Banner and the convinced Natasha Romanoff .

Another power point that reverberate much of what both Johansson and Ruffalo said in press discourse was that they " bring out the best in one another " .

Klee focus on the hidden position of both role , and how those side can touch on to one another . And while she certainly did n’t romanticize the anger issues the Hulk displays , she underline that they are something that humanizes an otherwise grievous character . " He ’s in as much pain as he causes . In a existent kinship , everyone is super pain , " she write .

Avengers Age of Ultron scene with Black Widow and the Hulk the Sun’s getting real low

Ultimately , the discussion play up what both actor realize in the kinship : " they agnize each other ’s baggage . " Their deal experience and traumatic past times help oneself them to understand each other . It probably does n’t injure that in the metre between the first and second Avengers movies the two worked nearly with one another . Whether fans harmonize is a unlike query , though .

STAR-CROSSED LOVERS?

In the buildup toInfinity War , devotee speculated a lot about what , if anything , we would see of this relationship . tidings and rumour abounded about what would happen , fall in that the movie was so full of plot already . It would be the first clock time the span was united afterAge of Ultronand both stars librate in   with their vista . Like any messy split , the two had quite different takes on the relationship going forrad .

Ruffalo holds a convinced prospect . In aninterviewwith Screen Rant , he likened the couple to Romeo and Juliet : " they ’re star cross fan , so it ’ll be something they ’re dealing with for the rest of their living days I think . Whether it ’s requited or unrequited , I do n’t guess that ’s gon na go away any time before long in one loop or another . "

On the other hand , Johansson took a more negatively charged view . In herinterviewwith Screen Rant , she seemed to shut down the room access on the relationship , since Romanoff " ins’t a sentimental someone " . Johansson say " I remember they both kind of needed to see this variety of heroic decision the last time they view one another , that they were run to sacrifice their own personal desire for the greater good . And that ’s happened and move on . "

Scarlett Johannson and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner and Black Widow in Avnegers

RUSSO ALSO THINKS IT’S OVER

Unfortunately for the Hulktasha shippers , including it seems Mark Ruffalo , Infinity War ’s director Joe Russo also cogitate that the relationship is over for the two of them . At a question and response academic term at an Iowa high school beforeInfinity War ’s release , Joe Russo was quiz about the controversial mates . His response was quite relation .

He emphasized that the direction for the relationship came from Joss Whedon . He said"I think Joss was endeavor to find interesting ways of pairing up the characters and create dynamics between them , " before acknowledging the general flavor that the experiment was n’t a success . However , he did n’t brush aside the decision , instead explaining how the intervening films and the latest MCU picture covered the relationship ’s radioactive dust .

He concluded that " There ’s sort of unspoken truth that there ’s need to be a spoken resolving power . " After two years ( at least for Black Widow , as Banner lost his sense of time on Sakaar ) , it makes sentiency that she has moved on . There have even been proposition that part of her move on process may have involved her fellow fugitive grinder Captain America , but in her consultation with Screen Rant , Johansson emphatically say that human relationship was platonic .

Scarlett Johannson and Mark Ruffalo discuss Black Widow and Hulk’s Burning Desire

Perhaps the next motion picture will give us more to see between Romanoff and Banner .

WHEDON ADDRESSES RIVAL RELATIONSHIP

In the comics , Hawkeye and Widow apportion a democratic and intimate kinship . give the closeness of their MCU embodiment in the first Avengers moving picture , devotee may have expect the same . That expectation was at the nub of a stack of rooter criticism of Hulk and Widow ’s relationship . When addressing his conclusion , Whedon explained his determination for the direction he take the character .

In a discussion withEmpire , he tell " I make love a circle of people are quite furious about it . Mostly because of Clint , I guess , and sometimes Steve . Everybody wants what they need . " He then went on to explicate his selection to research other romance for the character . He wanted to dodge the expectation that the twohaveto be in a human relationship to explicate their parsimony .

Whedon said it ’s more " amatory " that there could be two the great unwashed who " would break for each other " but are n’t quixotic partners at all .

Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff’s relationship in Avengers Age of Ultron

He dissolve the Hawkeye and Black Widow kinship as both obvious and less interesting as a relationship . He also dismiss the criticisms from devotee who project a romantic link between Cap and Widow fromThe Winter Soldier , tell that any love affair there was never the intent of the team .

JOHANSSON’SINFINITY WARREUNION DEVASTATION

Acting is an emotionally demanding process and for a movie as emotional asInfinity War , it was even more so . For Johansson , the long - wait meeting between Bruce and Natasha took a heavy cost . After film their quiet reunion in Wakanda , Johansson pronounce " I had such devastation that day , I do n’t screw why . " In theinterview , she unpacks the situation a little more . She describes the feeling between Bruce and Black Widow as " Something that should feel so solid , and suddenly does n’t . " This is yet another shock for the human relationship , and the awkwardness in the moment is so palpable even Falcon calls it out in the scene .

Johansson persist in to say in the interview that the emotions in the scene remind her of some events in her own life . She enounce : " Just being able to bring all of that to work and test it and play with it " with the help of Mark Ruffalo was a very helpful experience .

The plot ofInfinity Warwas really full to bursting and so there was almost no clip to really take out the relationship more than was reach . Fans are already wondering now what will fall out for The Hulk and Black Widow inAvengers 4 . peculiarly with the ongoing tenseness between Bruce Banner ’s two side in the movie , Widow might have some role to toy .

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