Scarlett Johansson & Disney Settle Lawsuit Over ‘Black Widow’ Pay Out
The Black Widow star and Disney have finally settled their lawsuit.
Last year’s transition from theater releases to streaming services caused tension between studios and performers. Actress Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney made the conflict a headline. Now, after a few months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the two parties have finally settled their dispute.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Black Widow vs. Disney
In late July, Scarlett Johansson made headlines when she filed a lawsuit against Disney. Johansson maintained that she was owed an estimated $50 million. The suit stated that Disney premiered Black Widow on Disney+ and in theaters at the same time. Johansson’s representative said that her contract guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
The resulting public battle was not a good look for Disney. The studio accused the star of being insensitive to the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Their comments deflected concerns about streaming platforms and their long-term effects on the industry.
Soon after, to no one’s surprise, Disney quietly moved to settle the dispute privately.
The Dust Settles…
Yesterday the two parties reached a settlement. Disney and ScarJo haven’t shared any details of the settlement, but both are reportedly very satisfied.
“I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years[…] I look forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come.” – Scarlet Johansson
Disney chairman Alan Bergman also expressed happiness with the settlement. He said that Disney “look[s] forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s Tower of Terror.”
Just before the release of Black Widow, sources told Collider that ScarJo would be starring in Disney’s upcoming film based on the Twilight Zone-inspired theme park ride.
Fans can take comfort in knowing that there’s no bad blood between the star and the studio.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
As for the future of theaters and streaming, the success of Shang-Chi seems to have reassured Disney that theatrical releases are back. But that doesn’t mean this settlement is irrelevant. With the rise of streaming services and possible Covid variants, it’s in Hollywood’s best interest to set a precedent for streaming releases. This settlement and its unprecedented press coverage are sure to influence how studios address these conflicts in the future.
