Synopsis:

Black Widow was the first MCU film lead by a female hero, but it really should've been released before Avengers: Infinity War, This edit is intended to be viewed as part of Phase 3, right after Captain America: Civil War. By changing the opening and removing the post credit's scene, my hope is to make Black Widows feel more like a tradition spy/espionage thriller.

Intentions:

This edit is intended to be viewed as part of Phase 3, before Avengers: Infinity War. Despite being just few minutes longer than the original cut, this edit actually tightens the pace while still increasing character-developing moments.

Change List:

- Added FE.org logo before the shortened MCU logo used in Secret Invasion. No fanfare, just right into the movie - trimmed scenes between young Natasha and Yelena to improve pacing - moved present day scenes after opening credits to introduce adult Yelena first, before catching up with Natasha after the events of Captain America: Civil War - cut all shots of Dreykov before he is revealed in the third act. This leaves the mystery of whether or not he is still alive following Natasha's assassination attempt until their face to face reunion. - added a deleted scene extending the introduction of Task Master, re-edited to Billie Eilish's COPYCAT. - trimmed Budepest pronuciation joke - trimmed Task Master's first attack on Natasha, cutting slow-motion explosion shots - removed almost all Task Master POV shots to enhance the character's action scenes and make their powers seem less technology based - cut shots of Dreykov pressing buttons to command the fallen widow execute herself. Now she just does it, leaving us feeling the same fear and confusion as Natasha - added deleted scene of Natasha and Yelena biking through Budepest and being stuck at a gate - added music to the car chase in Budepest - cut a shot of Natasha and Yelena hiding in an airduct so we don't know they've evaded Task Master until after she's jummped into the underground grate. - trimmed Yelena's joke about Natasha's "fighting pose" - added a trimmed version of a deleted scene where Red Guardian struggles to fit into his old suit - added a deleted scene of "Melina" in the Red Room, seeing a group of widows training - added deleted scene between Melina and Red Guardian before they fight task master - Used VFX to improve obvious green screen shots in the finale (Shout out to Corridor Digital for providing ideas in their Black Widow VFX breakdown) - cut an obvious CGI shot of Natasha punching Task Master mid-air - added deleted scene where Red Guardian and Melina share a kiss after surving their crash during the destruction of the Red Room - removed shots of Task Master being rescued and taken in by the surviving widows - added deleted scene of General Ross taking Task Master and arresting Natasha after the climactic events in the Red Room - added deleted scene of Natasha visiting her childhood home and revealing her new blonde hair - added my name to the credits - replaced music in the credits with two classic Bond themes, From Russia with Love (opening title theme) and Skyfall - removed post credits scene. - added text "Black Widow will return in Avengers: Infinity War"