HOLLYWOOD, CA — The enduring on-screen partnership between Chris Evans (Captain America) and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) formed the emotional bedrock of a six-movie legacy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Yet, this meticulously crafted narrative almost ground to a halt due to a single, high-stakes accident involving Evans and an iconic prop, an error that caused a production delay lasting a staggering 14 hours.
The emergency was defused not by a special effects wizard or a frantic prop master, but by Johansson’s lightning-fast comedic timing and a simple, unscripted, five-word quip.
The Catastrophe: 14 Hours of Production Paralysis
The incident occurred late into the grueling filming schedule of one of the later Avengers installments. Evans, under immense pressure and exhaustion from the demands of maintaining continuity across the multi-billion-dollar franchise, fumbled a crucial, highly specialized prop—a version of Captain America’s shield or related equipment.
The prop was described as being essential for the scene’s emotional payoff, and replacing it quickly was virtually impossible. Each key “hero prop” shield often costs tens of thousands of dollars and requires days of custom, meticulous fabrication.
- The Immediate Cost: The catastrophic damage to the one-of-a-kind piece instantly jeopardized the entire production schedule, risking a domino effect across the massive, interlocking filming timelines.
- The 14-Hour Scramble: The subsequent effort to repair the original or locate and adapt a suitable backup dragged on for a debilitating 14 hours, paralyzing the entire set while the clock ticked on the multi-million-dollar production.
Overwhelmed by remorse and the gravity of the cost and delay, Chris Evans reportedly expressed his despair to the crew with the defeated, heartfelt apology: “I’ll buy you a new one.”
The Lightning-Fast, 5-Word Quip
As morale plummeted and the set’s atmosphere became thick with exhausted tension, it was Scarlett Johansson (playing Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow) who stepped forward to break the mood.
With her characteristic dry, sarcastic delivery, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and delivered the instantly memorable line:
“It’s only money, Honey.”
The sheer, absurd understatement was a comedic masterstroke. Applying a throwaway phrase typically used for a minor personal purchase to a multi-thousand-dollar piece of film history instantly released the pressure valve on set. Laughter erupted across the tired crew.
While the five words didn’t magically fix the broken prop, Johansson’s quick wit instantly salvaged the emotional tone of the set. By acknowledging the monumental financial cost in such a flippant way, she allowed everyone to reset, enabling the director to move on to the next segment and preventing the costly blunder from spiraling into a complete emotional and production disaster.
The anecdote stands as a perfect testament to the real-life chemistry between the two stars, proving that sometimes, the most important save in a six-movie franchise is made not with a shield, but with a perfectly timed quip.
