Black Widow: BTS Photos Show Melina & Taskmaster

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We already posted some of the new photo stills from Black Widow on Marvel Blog – which you can view here – but those weren’t all of the exciting behind-the-scenes images released. Although it’s unclear when (or where) Black Widow will be released for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans to enjoy, the leak of new Taskmaster, Melina, and Mason images makes it clear that the marketing campaign for the next Marvel Studios feature film has begun!

Black Widow BTS Photos

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow is a spy thriller directed by Cate Shortland, and it’ll explore Natasha Romanov’s dark past, found family, and time training with the Red Room. The latest behind-the-scene stills from Black Widow show the cast working with director Shortland on set, with some close ups of the actors in costume.

Photo: @ImAFilmEditor

The latest behind-the-scenes photos from Black Widow offer fans a fresh look at Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanov (A.K.A. Black Widow), Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff, O-T Fagbenle as Mason, and the villain Taskmaster.

Photo: @ImAFilmEditor

Who Is Taskmaster?

One of the images gives us another glimpse at Taskmaster, who was first introduced in Avengers #195 by David Michelinie and George Pérez. However, he didn’t make his full comic book debut until the following issue in Avengers #196 by Michelinie, Pérez, Jack Abel, John Costanza, and Carl Gafford.

Photo: Marvel Comics

With the ability to mimic anyone’s non-supernatural fighting style, the character has played the part of a villain, hero, and antihero (think The Punisher) over the course of his Marvel Comics’ run.

Photo: @ImAFilmEditor

According to the film’s trailers, in the MCU, Taskmaster is in charge of the Russian Red Room, a top-secret training facility that turns young women into assassins. Remember, the Red Room is where Natasha learned her super fancy spy skills.

Who Is Rachel Weisz’s Melina Vostokoff?

In the comics, Melina Vostokoff’s moniker is Iron Maiden due to her flexible metal costume. She first appeared in 1983’s Marvel Fanfare #11 by Ralph Macchio, George Peréz, J.J. Sinnabel, Tom Orzechowski, and Ben Sean, and at one point in the comic books, she even joined the Femizons, which was delightfully villainous.

Marvel Fanfare #11 by Ralph Macchio, George Peréz, J.J. Sinnabel, Tom Orzechowski, and Ben Sean. Photo: Marvel Comics

It’s unclear what role Weisz’s Melina will play in the MCU. So far, we know that she’s a former colleague of Natasha from the Soviet Red Room, and thus, she’s trained as an assassin and spy. Plus, in the trailer and BTS photos, she seems to be Natasha’s ally.

Rachel Weisz. Photo: @ImAFilmEditor

However, in the comics, the two characters are more like “frenemies” (and that’s putting it nicely), so the true nature of their relationship in Black Widow remains to be seen.

Who Is O-T Fagbenle’s Mason?

One image that appeared online gave us a glimpse at Fagbenle’s mysterious character, Mason, who is described as an ally from Natasha’s past. Also, the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent is being billed as a potential love interest for Natasha – ya know, now that her fling with huge dork Bruce Banner is over.

Photo: @ImAFilmEditor

Despite this, many fans believe that Mason will turn out to be the Taskmaster. Maybe a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent is the perfect person to train future assassins in the art of heroic moves in the MCU?

Fans will just have to wait and see how things play out in the film. What do you think will happen in Black Widow? Let Marvel Blog know!

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