David Farnor | On 02, Oct 2021

Disney and Scarlett Johansson have reached a settlement after the Black Widow star’s lawsuit over the film’s release earlier this year.

The first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the long-awaited comic book blockbuster sees Johansson reprise her role as Natasha Romanoff for the last time, as she struggles to confront the darker parts of her ledger and deal with unfinished business. The film was released in cinemas in the UK and US on 9th July, and also released that week on the streaming service Disney+, with a Premier Access fee of £19.99 on top of the £7.99 monthly Disney+ subscription.

Disney hailed the release of Black Widow as a success, taking $80 million at the US box office – at the time the largest domestic opening weekend since Star Wars Episode IX in December 2019, and $78 million at the international box office, plus more than more than $60 million in consumer spend via Disney+ globally.

However, Johansson filed a lawsuit claiming that the release breached her contract, costing her potential compensation, which is based on the film’s box office receipts and what bonuses she might have received in a traditional theatrical release scenario. She sought a $50 million payout, while Disney took the unexpected step of publicly declaring that she had received $20 million compensation from the company, also accusing the actor of “callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The dispute has become a landmark case for the shifting digital landscape, in which theatrical windows have shrunk to introduce a new Premium VOD rental window and studios increasingly have their own streaming platforms that they are using as direct distribution channels. With all these changes unfolding, though, agreements and terms for how the creative talent involved get a share of the pie are still being hammered out – Warner Bros this year has taken the step of releasing all its films in the US simultaneously in cinemas and on its streaming service, HBO Max, a move that left many filmmakers displeased and Warner Bros paying out compensation sums to them.

Disney originally sought to force the lawsuit into arbitration, arguing that Johansson’s contract required disputes to be settled privately. It also revealed in in a filing in August that the film had grossed $125 million in streaming and $367 million gross from worldwide box office.

Now, in what may prove to set a standard for other projects, the matter has been settled, although the terms of the resolution have not been disclosed.

“I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney,” Johansson said in a statement on Thursday. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come.”

Alan Bergman, the chairman of Disney Studios Content, added in a statement: “I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson regarding Black Widow. We appreciate her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s Tower of Terror.”

 

Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over Black Widow’s online release

29th July 2021

Scarlett Johansson has filed a lawsuit against Disney over Black Widow’s online release.

The first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the long-awaited comic book blockbuster sees Johansson reprise her role as Natasha Romanoff for the last time, as she struggles to confront the darker parts of her ledger and deal with unfinished business.

The film was released in cinemas in the UK and US on 9th July, and also released that week on the streaming service Disney+, with a Premier Access fee of £19.99 on top of the £7.99 monthly Disney+ subscription.

Previous films to go down the Premier Access route include Cruella, Raya and the Last Dragon and Mulan, with Disney hailing the release of Black Widow a success, taking $80 million at the US box office – the largest domestic opening weekend since Star Wars Episode IX in December 2019, and $78 million at the international box office, plus more than more than $60 million in consumer spend via Disney+ globally.

Now, Johansson has filed a lawsuit claiming that the release breached her contract, costing her potential compensation, which is based on box ofice receipts. You can read the whole thing here (via Deadline).

Disney has responded by saying that “there is no merit whatsoever” to the filing.

“The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Disney. “Disney has fully complied with Ms Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.”

The filing comes just as Disney prepares to release another high-profile blockbuster, Jungle Cruise, in cinemas and on Disney+ with a Premier Access fee on the same date.

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