Kristen Dunst Beats Scarlett Johansson To Two Major Roles Before Black Widow Debut

Scarlett Johansson Lost Two Significant Roles To Kirsten Dunst Before Achieving Fame As Black Widow In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

By Akshay Sharma
April 8,2023

Scarlett Johansson has become one of the biggest names in Hollywood, but her journey to success wasn’t easy. Before becoming a main member of the original Avengers, Johansson had to endure multiple rejections for significant roles.

Losing Roles To Kristen Dunst

Kristen Dunst And Scarlett Johansson

During her early career, Kirsten Dunst, known for playing MJ in the Spider-Man trilogy, surpassed Johansson in several instances. Johansson lost two significant roles to Dunst, which lengthened her wait for stardom.

Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown

Johansson was originally considered for the lead role in the 2005 film Elizabethtown, a quirky and comedic love story. However, the role ultimately went to Dunst, who was better suited for the part. Although the movie didn’t perform well at the box office, losing the role was a setback for Johansson.

Jumanji

Kristen Dunst In Jumanji

In 1995, Johansson lost the role of Judy Shepherd in the blockbuster hit Jumanji to Dunst. The movie starred Robin Williams and could have been an early break for Johansson’s career. Despite missing out on the opportunity, Johansson expressed that she holds no grudges and enjoyed the movie’s brilliance.

Success Despite Obstacles

Black Widow

Despite the setbacks in her early career, Johansson didn’t let it stop her from achieving great success. She went on to become a global icon through her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even earned two Oscar nominations for her performances in Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story.