One ‘Black Widow’ Easter Egg Confirms the X-Men in the MCU

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scarlett johansson as natasha romanoff aka black widow poster

Credit: Marvel Studios

Black Widow is currently in theaters and available on Disney+ with Premier Access. It’s been a long wait for Marvel fans to return to the MCU, and now they’re overflowing with options like the new original series now streaming like Loki and WandaVision. The controversy surrounding the day-and-date release is only picking up steam as star Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has voiced his support for her. Disney has fired back calling it callus but other actors who have suffered the same treatment like Cruella’s Emma Stone are considering following Johansson’s example.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow
Credit: Marvel Studios

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All that drama aside that has not stopped Marvel fans from looking to the future of the MCU and the new Marvel Cinematic Multiverse, some fans are hoping that means that the X-Men are coming to the MCU sometime soon. Some thought that Evan Peters’ cameo in WandaVision was a sign Marvel boss Kevin Feige was making way for their introduction.

Others thought The Falcon and the Winter Soldier might have been setting up the most famous X-Men – Logan AKA Wolverine. The Marvel series brought Sam Wilson AKA Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes AKA The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) to Madripoor, where Wolverine lived in Marvel Comics for a long time.

Now according to Olivier Richters, who played Ursa Major in Black Widow, Marvel Studios slipped their first-ever mutant in a blink, and you’ll miss it cameo.

Related: Robert Downey, Jr. Scene Reportedly Cut From ‘Black Widow’

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRXAcKQN0xp/

He took to Instagram saying:

Marvel Black Widow is out! After two years I can finally tell who my character is: Ursa Major ?: the first mutant (X-Men) to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ursa is part of the Winter Guard, noted for being “Russia’s answer to the Avengers”. His power transforms him into an incredible bear, transcending The Hulk in size. Ursa appears many times in the comics fighting Wolverine and The Hulk.

When production on set told me who I really was in Black Widow I let some tears in my hotel room, because my movie dream became true: being a official comic super Hero. I can only hope Marvel will bring back Ursa in full form.

Richters, who goes by The Dutch Giant, was introduced with Alexei Shastakov AKA Red Guardian (David Harbour). When Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) break their surrogate father out of jail.

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Olivier Richters as Winter Guard Mutant Ursa Major in Black Widow
Credit: Marvel Studios

Who is the Mutant Ursa Major?

Alexei breaks Ursa Major’s arm the movie moves past the cameo without dwelling on it. But the character was a reference to Russia’s superhero team The Winter Guard that David Harbour previously leaked would show up in Black Widow.

In Marvel Comics, Ursa Major AKA Mikhail Ursus is a mutant who can transform into a bear. His name means “Greater Bear” after all. However, there is a downside as the longer he stays in his bear form, the more of his human intelligence and control he loses. After being imprisoned in a Russian gulag, like he was in Black Widow he became an aggressive alcoholic.

Fans thought they spotted another Easter egg for Ursa Major in the first Black Widow trailer when fans spotted a bear standing on its hind legs, but he did not appear in his bear form in the Marvel film.

black widow ursa major winter guard mutant marvel comics
Credit: Marvel Comics

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He was not the only mention of the Winter Guard as Yelena mistakenly called Alexei the Crimson Dynamo. Crimson Dynamo was the Russian equivalent of Iron Man just like Red Guardian is a parallel to Captain America.

Marvel might not have officially confirmed that Ursa Major was a mutant in the MCU yet, but it might also not be his last appearance. David Harbour has been pushing for Red Guardian and the rest of the Winter Guard to return so that he can fight Captain America or even join Yelena in hunting down Hawkeye aka Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner).

Related: How ‘Loki’ Finale Gave Marvel Its Next ‘Endgame’

Hugh Jackman as Logan aka Wolverine
Credit: 20th Century Fox

Marvel is working on its own version of the X-Men and the film is rumored to be called The Mutants. And has confirmed to be working on Deadpool 3 which will bring back Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, a mutant mercenary who existed in his own corner of Fox’s X-Men franchise.

While neither The Mutants nor Deadpool 3 have been confirmed to be part of Marvel Phase 4, they could hit theaters as soon as November 2023.

Are you excited about the first mutant to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know in the comments.

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