A couple weeks back it was reported that Emily Blunt had been cast in Marvel’s Iron Man 2. But it turns out that 20th Century Fox has an option on the actress from a deal that was made when she co-starred in The Devil Wears Prada that might prevent the Golden Globe winner from entering the Marvel Universe. Fox wants Blunt to star in Gulliver’s Travels, which is set to shot in the UK starting in Late March, while Iron Man 2 begins production this April in California.

However, Variety says that both Fox and Blunt’s reps were feeling optimistic on Thursday that both studios might somehow be able to accommodate Blunt’s dual shooting schedule. Blunt was supposed to play a former soviet spy named Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widdow. During the dueling trade stories, there was even a mention that the character would be Stark’s new assistant, but it was never made clear if that was just another inaccuracy in the reporting.

Blunt and Jason Segel are in talks to join Jack Black in Gulliver’s Travels, with Shark Tale director Rob Letterman taking up directorial duties. Written by Nicholas Stoller and Joe Stillman, the “contemporary re-imagining” will see a travel writer named Gulliver, who takes an assignment to visit the Bermuda Triangle, and somehow washes up on an island where he’s a giant compared to the tiny population. Blunt is set to play Black’s love interest, a princess of the island of Lilliput. Segel will play Horatio, Gulliver’s Lilliputian friend who helps him escape from trouble.

I’m much prefer to see her in Iron Man 2, and I’m sure I’m not alone. I understand that Fox has the legal option on Blunt, but after the whole Watchmen mess, I would think the studio would do whatever they can to try not to piss off the comic book/fanboy crowd.