Scarlett Johansson is a prolific actress, known best for playing the exceptional Black Widow in Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, unlike other MCU actors, her acting career hasn’t been overshadowed by her Marvel role. Instead, it has given her already-claimed career more impetus.

Scarlett Johansson

Over the years, the illustrious actress has appeared in innumerable memorable roles, earning her multiple accolades. In her entire career, probably the most divisive movie is Jonathan Glazer’s Under The Skin. A very controversial movie, and not a cup of tea for everyone, the sci-fi drama thriller earned her widespread praise that nearly took a decade to make.

Scarlett Johansson’s Under The Skin Took A Decade To Make

ScarJo in a still from Under The Skin

Under The Skin, in the simplest terms, is a view of humanity from an outside perspective. A sci-fi thriller, yet a social experiment at best, Jonathan Glazer‘s movie features Scarlett Johansson as an ‘alien’. It features her as a seductive alien who lures unsuspecting men and ultimately butcher them for food back home.

While the movie is surprising, an even more surprising element is that it took a decade to develop. Glazer had decided to adapt Michael Faber’s novel of the same name in 2001, but the screenplay process didn’t start until 2004. He even lost interest in the movie multiple times.

“I knew then that I absolutely didn’t want to film the book. But I still wanted to make the book a film. I said I was giving up many times. I don’t think I ever meant it.”

Over the years the story was changed multiple times and even featured two aliens and Brad Pitt was roped in to play the husband. But then he finally cut short the script down to 60 pages, featuring just Johansson as the alien, with the movie released in 2014.

Scarlett Johansson Was Almost Replaced By Olivia Wilde

Oliva Wilde nearly replaced Johansson

Under The Skin starts with Johansson being completely devoid of any emotions and ends with her going through an emotional awakening. The chilling tale grips viewers, and the Lucy actress stuns them with her intriguing acting in the complex world of humans. Johansson, who almost stripped for the role, shocked everyone with her extraordinary acting.

However, the We Bought a Zoo star was almost replaced by Meadowland actress Olivia Wilde. But before the casting could take off, Johansson won the part and undoubtedly did a splendid job of portraying the enigmatic alien.

Under The Skin can be rented on Google Play.

Source: The Guardian