Emily Blunt May Play Femme Fatale The Black Widow In 'Iron Man 2'

What’s more fascinating to you, the fact that Emily Blunt is rumored to play a “femme fatale” in “Iron Man 2,” or the fact that Variety, perhaps feeling the economic crunch like all of us, is resorting to publishing what they admit to be “rumors”?

According to the trade paper Blunt has emerged as the front runner to play the villain the Black Widow aka, Natasha Romanoff, a Soviet super spy beauty in a skintight black costume that is enhanced by high-tech weaponry.

The trade, which sometimes admonishes blogs for publishing news stories without official studio confirmation say that “Marvel would not comment on the Black Widow casting,” but obviously they’ve heard it from a good source so they’re running with it.

Times change, even the entertainment journalism game.

Meanwhile, “Iron Man 2” and its script must be mostly complete as casting is ramping up super quickly. Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell might be playing super villains in the film and Samuel L. Jackson might have lost his gig as S.H.I.E.L.D agent Nick Fury because of alleged Marvel penny pinching with his contract. Shooting on the “Iron Man” sequel is supposed to begin in April.