Marvel Studios
After becoming a bonafide A-lister thanks to his beloved performance as Hawkins Police Chief Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, David Harbour has now taken the next step to becoming a full-blown movie star, as he’s set to star as Red Guardian in this Spring’s Black Widow.
The Red Guardian — real name Alexei Shostakov — made his first Marvel Comics appearance in The Avengers #43 back in August 1967. However, that version of the character was named Aleksey Lebedev. In Black Widow, Harbour will be portraying Alexei Shostakov.
The Soviet Union’s answer to Captain America, Shostakov — who was born in Moscow and was the husband of Natasha Romanova — does not have superpowers or abilities. The character has been described as being a highly-skilled athlete who is an expert pilot and spy and a master of hand-to-hand combat.
Black Widow will mark the character’s first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and, given Harbour’s growing star power, may not be his last.
Black Widow — the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first film in the franchise’s “Phase 4” — stars Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Florence Pugh, O-T Fagbenle, Rachel Weisz, Ray Winstone, and Olivier Richters. Additionally, it has long been rumored that Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark and William Hurt’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross may appear in the film as well.
Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow — which may mark Scarlett Johansson’s final appearance as the character — is scheduled to hit theaters in the United States on Friday, May 1, 2020.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com