The Avengers: Infinity War, Black Widow will follow Nat on the run as she reunites with key figures from her life before she became a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. After nearly a decade, it seems the MCU will finally fill in the blanks regarding Budapest's significance, since eagle-eyed fans spotted that the trailer had scenes in the location.
The first mention of Budapest in the MCU came in 2012's convince Nat to become a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent following her tragic past connected to Russia's Black Widow program.
The mystery of what actually happened to Nat and Clint in Budapest has deepened over the course of the characters' various appearances in the MCU. After years of questions, Black Widow is confirmed to finally give viewers answers about the secret mission, and the events that occurred within it. Whatever went on in Hungary, many fans have speculated that it must have negative connotations. Here are the most popular Budapest theories heading into Black Widow's 2021 release.
Black Widow & Hawkeye Fought Taskmaster In Budapest
One of the most popular theories surrounding the events of the city suggests that Natasha and Clint were in Budapest when they first fought Taskmaster. The mysterious villain is set to portray the primary antagonist of Black Widow, but it's suggested that he's had run-ins with the titular character far prior to this film. Since Nat claims "we have to go back to where it all started," it can't be a coincidence that a major portion of the movie takes place in the Hungarian city. With Budapest's setting, the presence of Taskmaster could easily be connected to the S.H.I.E.L.D. operation that Nat and Clint were sent on well before we were introduced to the MCU with the events of The Avengers.
The brief glimpse of Taskmaster in the Black Widow trailers provides more evidence to this particular theory. Not only does the villain have the skills to go toe-to-toe with the expert assassin, Black Widow, but he also shares archery skills like Hawkeye. The Marvel Comics villain was always known for his photographic memory, allowing him to mimic anything he witnesses. Whether it's combat or weaponry skills, Taskmaster would have been able to replicate the actions of Black Widow and Hawkeye if he previously encountered them. While this theory is very plausible, it might require an appearance by Clint, at least in flashback compacity, to fully tie up loose ends to the mystery of Budapest.
Nick Fury Sent Black Widow & Hawkeye To Stop An Ongoing Threat In Budapest
While most Budapest mentions came from Natasha or Clint, that wasn't always the case in the MCU. In Fury told Carol that he was sent to various locations during the Cold War, including Belgrade, Belfast, Bucharest, and Budapest. This could have been a clever connection to add more to the mystery that surrounds Hungary in the MCU, but it may have added a new layer to Nat and Clint's secret S.H.I.E.L.D. mission.
Fury wasn't a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent when he participated in an operation in Budapest, but he was the Director when Nat and Clint were sent on their mission. It was a known fact that HYDRA orchestrated much of the actions of the Soviets during the Cold War. If the relations with the former Soviet Union weren't up to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s liking, the organization may have sent two of their best agents to thwart a threat. Hungary, of course, was once under the Soviet's control during the Cold War. Since Nat has a clear connection to the Soviets and Russia, she could have made an attempt to placate some kind of tension between the nations. While certainly possible that it had something to do with Fury's past, there's also a chance that Nat and Clint were sent to Budapest cover up for something their Director did in the city of Budapest so it didn't lead back to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s entire organization.
Black Widow Did Something Awful In Budapest
There's another compelling theory that suggests Black Widow and Hawkeye failed in their Budapest mission, getting innocent people killed in the process. Shortly before Natasha claimed that the Battle of New York was "just like Budapest all over again," Clint was shown helping innocent citizens escape from a bus. Nat's comparison was pointed at their face-off with the overwhelming Chitauri army, but it might have been a reference to the entire chain of events, including the protection of Hungarian citizens. It seemed like Nat and Clint had a handle on the alien enemies in New York, but considering Hawkeye claimed that he ed Budapest differently, that might not have been the case with their Budapest mission.
Nat's revelation that she has "sacrifice herself to get the Soul Stone on Vormir in Avengers: Endgame.
Black Widow & Hawkeye Had A Romantic Fling In Budapest
Black Widow and Hawkeye were known to have a romantic relationship in the comics, but that never played out in the MCU. Instead, they built an extremely strong platonic bond that carried up until Nat's tragic sacrifice. Even with Nat's emerging feelings for Bruce Banner, she remained committed to her job. Clint, meanwhile, had a wife and kids that he greatly cared for. Even with their respective storylines, not all fans were convinced, believing that Black Widow and Hawkeye could have had a romantic relationship in the past.
If this was the case, their fling may have happened around the time of the Budapest mission. Whereas Nat ed the special operation itself, Clint may have connected it to that confusing stage in their relationship, hence his comment in The Avengers. While it's entirely possible that Black Widow and Hawkeye were more than just friends at some point, the Black Widow revelation would be a disservice to the years-long buildup of the Budapest mystery. The revelation would also fall into the tired trope that men and women can't have a strong bond without romance.
