How Scarlett Johansson Really Felt About Working With Jeremy Renner For So Long

The 2012 mega-blockbuster "The Avengers" brought together Marvel's greatest superheroes for the very first time on the big screen. Watching Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, the Hulk, and Hawkeye fighting together side by side was enough to give any viewer the chills, and the group dynamic was more powerful than anyone could have asked for. Sure, they had their differences in the beginning, but when push came to shove, Earth's mightiest heroes delivered.

After the huge success of the first film, there was no question that audiences would see more of the Avengers in the future. The Marvel Cinematic Universe provided four sequels in seven years, giving the heroes ample opportunity to grow stronger and cement their relationships with one another. With the developments happening on screen, it's easy to wonder just what kind of relationships were happening behind the scenes — especially with a group of actors who have been working so closely together for nearly a decade. 

One of the most compelling character relationships in the "Avengers" franchise is the one between Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), aka Black Widow and Hawkeye. The chemistry between the two actors was undeniable, leaving audiences to wonder about their off-screen friendship. So, how did Johansson and Renner obtain such a rapport with one another? How do they really feel about working together? Johansson dished the truth about her and Renner's working relationship in a recent interview. Here's what she had to say.

Scarlett Johansson says that Jeremy Renner is 'so brilliant'

"Black Widow" star Scarlett Johansson recently appeared on "SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Podcast" to talk about the upcoming Marvel movie. When asked about her long time co-star Jeremy Renner, Johansson had a lot to say.

"Jeremy and I have worked, we've all worked together now [for] over a decade of time," Johansson said. "And, you know, Jeremy is one of the finest actors around. He's so brilliant. We knew each other before we did the first 'Avengers,' and were desperate to find something to do together."

When Renner was cast to play Hawkeye in "The Avengers," both he and Johansson felt like the movie's newbies, as Johansson explained to Jess Cagle, and so they were naturally drawn to one another. "Renner and I came into it [and] in a way, it felt like we were doing it together. Like we were the new kids on set, kind of weirdly," she said. "We just kind of stuck to each other, and those characters have such a beautiful love for one another. They just understand each other so much. ... They just have been in the foxhole together, and it felt like Renner and I were in the foxhole together. ... Really, our friendship, I think, added to the authenticity of the dynamic between those two."

It's clear the fondness these two actors have for each other, and that shows itself in every scene they are in. Will fans get to see more of Hawkeye and Black Widow together on screen? We'll find out when "Black Widow" hits theaters and Disney+ Premier Access on July 9.