The Black Widow trailer has taken fans of the MCU by storm, offering several new looks into Natasha Romanov’s past. That includes her self-described ‘family’ of Russian agents, including Red Guardian, played by actor David Harbour. But comparing him to the comics, it seems Marvel Studios may have already changed him from his comic book origins — erasing his marriage with Natasha, as well.
In the Black Widow trailer itself, Natasha reunites with a few old allies previously unseen in the MCU. First crossing paths with Yelena Bolova, the second Black Widow (Florence Pugh), whom she refers to as a sister. Natasha and Yelena eventually team up with two more past allies. Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) is another Widow successor. But the standout introduction belongs to Alexi Shostakov, the Red Guardian. An antagonist in the comics with a romantic history with Natasha, it’s an understatement to say his film debut is a serious change of pace. And that may be a hint of an even bigger change.
In the comics, Natasha Romanov and Alexi Shostakov actually get married. However, while Natasha determines to leave the KGB and travel to America, Alexi stays to remain loyal to Russia and the KGB. While he was once thought to have given his life to save her and Captain America, he is discovered alive years later, resentful towards Natasha for leaving the KGB (and him). He pits himself against her as a result, desiring to bring her to justice for betraying her country.
There’s not much known about Natasha’s history with Russia and the KGB in the MCU. She is the daughter of Drakov, presumably some sort of powerful player in Russia. Her training was intense and brutal in a place known as the Red Room. Eventually she became a master spy and assassin, and S.H.I.E.L.D. sent Clint Barton to take her out. He made a different choice, and recruited her. While it’s unclear how Alexi fits into Natasha’s past, it would seem to be based prior to her defection… which would certainly suggest hostility, or hatred, as opposed to happiness (as Alexi displays in the trailer). And if he’s not intended to be the antagonist or villain as he’s been in the comics, then his motivations would have to be jettisoned, too.
It’s doubtful that this MCU version of Red Guardian was once married to Natasha as he is in the comics, especially when considering the fact that Natasha tells Captain America in Avengers: Endgame that before joining the Avengers she had “nothing.” If the early footage depicts Red Guardian as a laughable sidekick — and theories suggest another Black Widow character plays the villain — it’s more likely Shostakov will play the older brother alongside Yelena as the younger sister. Just how much more of Black Widow’s comic origin will the movie change?
In any case, more on Red Guardian is sure to be learned the closer we get to Black Widow’s release.
