Saoirse Ronan says she would prefer a Bond role over working in Marvel movies while addressing Black Widow casting rumor

In a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Irish actress Saoirse Ronan addressed long-standing rumors about her involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Fans of the Little Women star may have been surprised to learn that Ronan was reportedly in talks to play Yelena Belova in Marvel’s Black Widow, a role that ultimately went to Florence Pugh.

When asked by host Josh Horowitz if she had ever been considered for the part, Ronan’s response was intentionally vague.

"Um, how did you hear about that?" she asked, hinting that the casting rumor had indeed been circulating.

Despite her cryptic response, Saoirse Ronan didn’t offer a definitive answer, leaving fans speculating about what might have been. "I don’t know," she said, dodging the question with a laugh, as Horowitz took her silence as confirmation of the rumor.

Though Ronan did not confirm her involvement in the Black Widow casting process, she did share her feelings about possibly joining the MCU. While she admires the franchise, Ronan revealed that she doesn’t see herself as part of it.

"I can't see myself doing Marvel," she admitted. "I don’t… No, I would prefer to do Bond."

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Saoirse Ronan would prefer to play a Bond role

The Oscar-nominated actress’s preference for the James Bond franchise over Marvel films reflects her desire for a different type of role. However, she is not entirely opposed to big-budget films.

"There’s nothing wrong with [Marvel] and I think they’re brilliant films. I want to do more big movies,"

Ronan said, adding that the current state of the film industry makes it a "luxury" to be part of projects that are guaranteed an audience.

Saoirse Ronan explained that while she loves working on independent films, she has become more interested in joining large-scale productions. A key turning point for her was seeing Barbie (2023), directed by her former collaborator Greta Gerwig.

"I wanna do that! Of course, I want to do that stuff," she said, expressing her excitement about being part of larger-than-life projects. "I like big shows, and I want to be in a musical, and I want to do all that," she added, hinting at her growing desire for versatility in her career.

Though she didn’t regret missing out on the role of Yelena, Saoirse Ronan admitted to feeling disappointed about losing another iconic part—Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter franchise.

"There’s things that you’ll pass on, and then they come out, and you think, 'Oh God, that was a misstep on my part,'" she revealed during a previous interview with Jimmy Kimmel.

Luna Lovegood remains one of the roles she wishes she had played, describing it as the one that "stayed with her" over the years.

The role of Yelena Belova in Black Widow eventually went to Florence Pugh, another rising star and Ronan’s co-star in Little Women. Pugh’s portrayal of Yelena has since become a fan favorite, and she has continued to reprise the role in other MCU projects, including the Disney+ series Hawkeye.

Pugh is set to return as Yelena in the upcoming Marvel film Thunderbolts, scheduled for release on May 2, 2025.

While Saoirse Ronan may have passed on the opportunity to join the MCU, she is leaving the door open for future blockbuster projects. Fans of the actress can expect to see her take on diverse roles in the coming years, potentially including her dream of starring in a James Bond film or a musical.

Saoirse Ronan’s upcoming work includes starring in Blitz, a war drama directed by Steve McQueen, which is set to release in 2024. Fans can look forward to seeing her in new and diverse roles soon.