Saoirse Ronan reveals she turned down Marvel's Yelena Belova role: “I can’t see myself doing Marvel”

Saoirse Ronan has addressed speculation regarding her potential role as Yelena Belova in Marvel’s Black Widow. During an appearance on the podcast Happy Sad Confused, host Josh Horowitz asked Ronan about the rumors that she was offered the role before it was ultimately given to her Little Women co-star, Florence Pugh. Ronan playfully responded, “How did you hear about that?” when asked directly about the offer, hinting that the topic might hold some truth.

When pressed further about her feelings on superhero films, Ronan stated, “I can’t see myself doing Marvel,” emphasizing her desire to work on other types of projects, such as a James Bond film. While she acknowledges the brilliance of Marvel productions, she noted the luxury of knowing a film will be widely viewed, especially in the current cinematic landscape. Ronan expressed interest in participating in large-scale productions like Greta Gerwig's Barbie and even musicals, highlighting her ambition to diversify her acting portfolio.

Pugh has portrayed Yelena Belova, a highly skilled spy and assassin, in the 2021 Black Widow film and the Disney+ series Hawkeye, with plans to reprise her role in the upcoming film Thunderbolts, set for release on May 2, 2025. Ronan's comments contribute to ongoing discussions about the roles actors choose in the evolving entertainment industry, particularly in relation to superhero franchises.