Like a battle in a Marvel film, Disney and Scarlett Johansson proceed to alternate punches.

It all started Thursday when Johansson filed a lawsuit accusing Disney of breaching her contract for Black Widow, which assured an unique theatrical launch. Disney then replied with a press release that accused her of “callous disregard” to the covid-19 pandemic and revealed her wage on the movie: $20 million. The haymakers have continued Friday when Johansson’s company, Creative Artists Agency, launched a press release firing again. “I want to address the Walt Disney Company’s statement that was issued in response to the lawsuit filed against them yesterday by our client Scarlett Johansson,” Bryan Lourd, co-chairman of the Creative Artists Agency, stated in a press release obtained by Variety. “They have shamelessly and falsely accused Ms. Johansson of being insensitive to the global COVID pandemic, in an attempt to make her appear to be someone they and I know she isn’t.”

“Scarlett has been Disney’s partner on nine movies, which have earned Disney and its shareholders billions,” Lourd continued. “The company included her salary in their press statement in an attempt to weaponize her success as an artist and businesswoman, as if that were something she should be ashamed of. Scarlett is extremely proud of the work that she, and all of the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the Marvel creative team have been a part of for well over a decade…This suit was filed as a result of Disney’s decision to knowingly violate Scarlett’s contract. They have very deliberately moved the revenue stream and profits to the Disney+ side of the company, leaving artistic and financial partners out of their new equation. That’s it, pure and simple. Disney’s direct attack on her character and all else they implied is beneath the company that many of us in the creative community have worked with successfully for decades.”

In case you don’t bear in mind Disney’s assertion Lourd is referring to, right here it’s in full: “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.”

This is definitely going to be the start of a protracted battle, although the outcomes may show dramatic for the leisure business at massive, particularly if Johansson wins the lawsuit as an alternative of settling or having it dismissed in court docket. You could recall a latest massive push from authors who had been uniting to struggle Disney over royalties after Alan Dean Foster accused the corporate of withholding Star Wars ebook royalties post-Lucasfilm acquisition. Johansson has a large enough title (and positively sufficient cash) to make this a really public and dragged-out struggle, in contrast to numerous others who don’t have the privilege of going up in opposition to an organization price an estimated $122.18 billion.

And it doesn’t finish there. Matt Belloni, former editor on the Hollywood Reporter, stated in his e-newsletter (posted by Screenrant) that Emma Stone is likely to be contemplating an identical lawsuit as regards to Cruella which Disney launched solely through its streaming providers’ “Premier Access.” Emily Blunt and John Krasinski may have also looked at similar options with their Paramount movie, A Quiet Place Part 2, and that’s with Blunt’s newest movie, Jungle Cruise, coming to theaters and Disney+ Premier Access right this moment. Grab your popcorn. Unless you’re Disney. Cause it’s going to be very fascinating.

Wondering the place our RSS feed went? You can choose the brand new up one right here.