Key Takeaways:
– Scarlett Johansson sued Disney for their decision to release Black Widow on their streaming platform and in theaters simultaneously.
– The lawsuit was settled with a compensation allegedly exceeding $40 million.
– Despite the controversy, Johansson is open to working with Disney in the future.
Controversial Release Strategy
In one of the biggest Hollywood controversies of 2021, everyone's favorite Avenger, Black Widow, aka Scarlett Johansson, sued Disney over the release strategy for her solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The global pandemic forced a rather unconventional release method by Disney, as they decided to simultaneously release the movie in the theaters and on their streaming platform, Disney+. Johansson, however, alleged that this decision violated their contract, which stated that an exclusive theatrical release was promised.
A Difficult Time for Johansson
Johansson was taken aback by Disney's unilateral decision during a rather sensitive time in her personal life. In an interview with The New York Times, she explained how she was pregnant when she found out about Disney's accusation of her being “insensitive” towards the prevalent pandemic. Despite the unpleasant stand-off, she does not hold a grudge against the studio and stoically referred to it as a poor display of judgment during challenging times.
Impact on Johansson's Earnings
Tying Johansson's earnings to the box office performance alone and not considering the profits from streaming reshaped the revenue streams of the movie. This move resulted in contract breach, alleged Bryan Lourd, Johansson's agent. The New York Times reported Lourd's statement where he argued Disney intentionally moved the profits over to the Disney+ platform, thereby depriving Johansson of her deserved income.
Settlement and Future Collaborations
Disney and Johansson achieved a settlement after prolonged legal discourse. Although the specifics of the settlement were not publicly disclosed, some reports suggest the compensation offered to Johansson was more than $40 million. Disney refuted Johansson's claims, arguing that the streaming release enabled her to earn extra compensation on top of her $20 million remuneration for the role. Despite their differences, both parties expressed willingness to work together in the future projects.
Box Office Performance
Despite the lawsuit and the unconventional release method, Black Widow's performance was awe-inspiring. The film raked in $80 million in North America during its opening weekend and pulled in another $60 million internationally on Disney+ that very weekend. As per the studio's records, the simultaneous multi-platform release didn't seem to dent its commercial success.
The Future
Even after the lawsuit controversy, Johansson's career continues to be on an upward trajectory with continued association with Disney. She has been confirmed for the Tower of Terror, another Disney movie yet to have a release date. Recent updates indicate a probable secret Marvel project with Johansson at the helm of it. Furthermore, the Black Widow is now available for streaming on Disney+.
Despite the dispute, the collaboration between Johansson and Disney appears set to continue, overlooking past disagreements and focusing on creating new, exciting projects for the audience.
