Marvel's Black Widow Movie Has Big Influence On Avengers Campus

Hot on the heels of the final trailer for Black Widow (which has now been delayed), the first film in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, comes news that the movie will play a major role in the upcoming Avengers Campus theme park expansion at Disney California Adventure.

When the land opens, not only will Black Widow be one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe superheroes guests will see, but she's bringing along a villain for the Avengers to fight. "The supervillain Taskmaster has some things he may want to steal from the Avengers Campus." Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive director Brent Strong revealed during a media preview of the land.

Taskmaster will figure into the live entertainment at Avengers Campus, a stunt show that takes place on the exterior of the Avengers Headquarters. In the show, the villain will come face-to-face with Captain America, Black Widow, and Black Panther and battle it out.

According to Strong, his specific powers will be put to great use in the show. "Taskmaster is interesting to us because he has photographic reflexes. He can watch someone fight in their fighting style and immediately mimic it," he explained. "So I think it's gonna be very interesting when the Black Widow and Black Panther and Captain America spring into action against Taskmaster up on top on the ramparts of the Avengers headquarters."

For Marvel Studios, the opportunity to introduce a villain from a brand-new movie was the perfect fit. "For us bringing that character to the big screen this summer in Black Widow, it was a great opportunity again for us to say, 'Well, hey, it's a living breathing place. Let's have him there on opening day,'" Marvel Studios vice president, franchise creative and marketing Dave Bushore said. "Again, I think it speaks to the opportunity to always be injecting new, fun story character elements into this place."

The potential of Avengers Campus constantly evolving based on what's happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is exciting. That said, given that the land is not set in the main MCU timeline, you shouldn't expect the land to mimic the movies too closely.

For more about Avengers Campus, take a look at our comprehensive coverage:

• What is the Avengers Campus Spider-Man ride called?
• How does the Spider-Man ride at Avengers Campus work?
• Is Avengers Campus set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
• Avengers Campus has 2 exclusive Funko Pops
• Black Widow movie has a huge influence on Marvel's Avengers Campus
• Every MCU character you can meet at Marvel's Avengers Campus
• How does that Avengers Campus Spider-Man robot work?
• Will Tom Holland play Spider-Man at Avengers Campus?
• The coolest food Avengers Campus has to offer

Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort's California Adventure is scheduled to open on July 18.