Can Black Widow Be Resurrected?
Nope, I’m not done picking apart the deaths of the movie yet. As explained, the emotional context of Natasha’s sacrifice in Endgame suggests this is it for the character. However, there could be a loophole here that allows for her resurrection.
As we all know by now, the taking of the Soul Stone from Vormir requires a death. However, we don’t know what happens if the Soul Stone is returned to Vormir. The phrase the Red Skull likes to use is “a soul for a soul.” So, surely when the Stone’s returned, you get the soul back that you exchanged it for in the first place, right? In this case, that’d be Black Widow?
I also pointed out in a different article that there’s already some doubt about Natasha’s death. As she sacrificed herself, Hawkeye didn’t kill her as Thanos did Gamora, yet he still got the Soul Stone. Maybe her fate isn’t quite as permanent then because she was bold enough to die for the cause herself? After all, Red Skull did say the Stone “has a certain wisdom” in Infinity War, so it’s possible that it can grant mercy in such a way.
Black Widow’s resurrection may already have happened off-screen, too, when Cap went back and returned the Stone. Old Steve didn’t seem in a hurry to tell his friends everything he’d been up to, so maybe he has a pleasant surprise up his sleeve.
Whatever happens chronologically, we can rest easy knowing that the Black Widow prequel movie is still on the way, which will explore Natasha’s origins.