5 Defining Moments That Made Scarlett Johansson's 2017 Her Most Transformative Year

The year 2017 stands as a seismic pivot point in the career and personal life of Scarlett Johansson, a period of immense professional risk, public controversy, and profound personal change. Looking back from today, December 10, 2025, it’s clear that this year was not just another 12 months for the Hollywood icon; it was a high-stakes tightrope walk involving major sci-fi blockbusters, a return to sketch comedy, and a dramatic shift in her private life that set the stage for her current reality. This deep dive uncovers the five most defining moments that solidified 2017 as her most transformative year.

Far from the safe confines of her established role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Johansson took two major cinematic swings—one a cyberpunk adaptation, the other a raunchy R-rated comedy—while simultaneously navigating a very public divorce and debuting a new, unexpected relationship. The confluence of these events, from the "whitewashing" backlash of a major film to her fifth time hosting *Saturday Night Live*, created a narrative that was impossible to ignore, cementing her status as one of the industry’s most resilient and talked-about stars.

Scarlett Johansson: A Brief Biography and Profile

• Full Name: Scarlett Ingrid Johansson
• Date of Birth: November 22, 1984
• Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
• Occupation: Actress, Singer
• Spouses:
  • Ryan Reynolds (m. 2008; div. 2011)
  • Romain Dauriac (m. 2014; div. 2017)
  • Colin Jost (m. 2020)
• Children: Rose Dorothy Dauriac, Cosmo Jost
• Notable Films (Pre-2017): *Lost in Translation*, *Girl with a Pearl Earring*, *Vicky Cristina Barcelona*, *The Avengers* (and subsequent MCU films)
• Major 2017 Projects: *Ghost in the Shell*, *Rough Night*, *Saturday Night Live* (Host)

The Sci-Fi Storm: *Ghost in the Shell* and the Whitewashing Controversy

The first major event of 2017 for Johansson was the release of the live-action adaptation of the classic Japanese manga, *Ghost in the Shell*, which hit theaters on March 31. Johansson starred as Major Mira Killian, a counter-cyberterrorist operative.

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Despite the film's stunning visual effects and Johansson's dedicated performance, the project was immediately engulfed in a significant controversy over "whitewashing." Fans and critics protested the casting of a Caucasian actress in the role of the character known in the original Masamune Shirow manga as Motoko Kusanagi.

The controversy dominated the film's press cycle, overshadowing its technical achievements. The debate centered on Hollywood's systemic exclusion of Asian actors from leading roles, especially in adaptations of Asian source material. The film ultimately underperformed at the box office, becoming a cautionary tale about representation in major studio productions.

This event forced Johansson into a difficult public position, requiring her to address the sensitive issue repeatedly in interviews. It marked a rare instance where her star power could not entirely shield a project from cultural scrutiny.

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A Bachelorette Party Gone Wrong: The Release of *Rough Night*

Following the intense, high-stakes sci-fi drama, Johansson pivoted dramatically to R-rated comedy with the June release of *Rough Night*. The film saw her star alongside a powerful ensemble cast, including comedy heavyweights like Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Zoë Kravitz, and Ilana Glazer.

*Rough Night* tells the story of five college friends who reunite for a bachelorette weekend in Miami that takes a dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper.

The movie was a deliberate attempt by Johansson to showcase her comedic timing outside of her established Marvel persona, following a similar tone to films like *Bridesmaids*. While the film received mixed reviews, it cemented Johansson's willingness to take creative risks and work within the ensemble comedy genre, proving her versatility beyond action and dramatic roles.

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From Host to Political Satirist: Her Fifth *SNL* Appearance

In the midst of her film releases, Johansson returned to her television roots, hosting *Saturday Night Live* for the fifth time on March 11, 2017, an honor that inducts a host into the prestigious "Five-Timers Club."

This particular episode (Season 42, Episode 16) was highly memorable, featuring musical guest Lorde and a series of politically charged sketches that defined the era.

The most viral and talked-about sketch of the night was "Complicit," a parody commercial for a perfume named after Ivanka Trump. In the sketch, Johansson played the First Daughter, depicting her as "complicit" in her father's controversial political agenda. The sketch was a sharp piece of political satire that garnered massive media attention and discussion, showcasing Johansson's ability to deliver pointed, timely social commentary.

The Tumultuous Personal Pivot: Divorce and the Debut of a New Romance

Perhaps the most defining, yet private, aspect of Scarlett Johansson’s 2017 was the dramatic shift in her personal life. The year began with the highly publicized news that she had filed for divorce from her second husband, French journalist and art curator Romain Dauriac, with whom she shares her daughter, Rose Dorothy Dauriac.

The divorce proceedings, which were finalized in September 2017, brought an end to their three-year marriage.

However, as one chapter closed, another began. Later that year, Johansson's relationship with *Saturday Night Live*'s head writer and "Weekend Update" co-host, Colin Jost, went public. The two had initially met years prior, but their romance blossomed after her *SNL* hosting gig in March 2017. They made their official public debut as a couple at the American Museum of Natural History Gala in late 2017, confirming the new relationship that would eventually lead to their 2020 marriage and the birth of their son, Cosmo Jost.

The simultaneous finalization of a divorce and the public debut of a new relationship marked 2017 as a year of significant emotional and relational transformation for the actress, setting her on the path to her current life.

The Lasting Legacy of Scarlett Johansson's 2017

The year 2017 was a crucible for Scarlett Johansson, a period where she faced intense scrutiny, both professional and personal, and emerged with a redefined career trajectory. From the "whitewashing" debate surrounding the Major in *Ghost in the Shell* to the hilarious antics of *Rough Night*, she demonstrated a fearless approach to her film choices.

Her work on *SNL*, particularly the "Complicit" sketch, proved her relevance in the cultural conversation, and her personal journey—the difficult Romain Dauriac divorce followed by the blossoming romance with Colin Jost—made her a fixture in both entertainment and celebrity news cycles. It was a year of endings and beginnings, solidifying her reputation not just as a blockbuster actress, but as a resilient figure unafraid to tackle challenging roles and life changes head-on. The foundation laid in this tumultuous year propelled her into the next phase of her career, culminating in her later Oscar nominations.