The Scarlett Johansson v. Disney Black Widow Lawsuit Enters Round 2

The newest spherical in the battle between longtime Marvel Cinematic Universe star Scarlett Johansson and Marvel Studios mother or father firm Disney started this weekend, when Disney’s legal professionals filed a movement to place the dispute over Black Widow’s income in non-public arbitration somewhat than have a public trial.

Johansson’s lawsuit, as you’ll recall, alleges that Marvel promised that Black Widow would have a theatrical-only launch, however that Disney pressured the studio to make the movie out there on Disney+ on the identical day as its theatrical launch. Johansson’s lawyer say this not solely cannibalized the film’s field workplace income, costing the actor hundreds of thousands in bonuses, however was in violation of her contract with Marvel.

Disney’s movement refutes this, in fact, and gives some contract specifics (courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter): “Disney says that Black Widow was put on more than 9,000 screens in the U.S., allegedly satisfying its obligation the film screen on no less than 1,500 (again, Johansson asserts it had to be exclusive), and according to the latest filing, as of Aug. 15, Black Widow has grossed more than $367 million in worldwide box-office receipts and more than $125 million in streaming and download retail receipts.

“Disney compares the Black Widow release to other films in the Marvel canon, saying that the opening weekend take was ‘more than that of many other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including Thor: The Dark World; Ant-Man; Ant-Man and the Wasp; and Guardians of the Galaxy.’”

That’s true, nevertheless it additionally ignores the huge, irregular drop in attendance Black Widow skilled between weeks one and two of its launch, which noticed the $80 million opening weekend income fall to only $26.3 million. Johansson’s legal professionals assert Disney put the extremely anticipated Black Widow film on Disney+ to drive subscribers to its streaming service somewhat than construct its field workplace, and several other theater proprietor associations have additionally accused Disney of the identical motive.

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The particulars of Johansson’s Marvel contract haven’t been revealed but, so we will’t know if Disney honored it correctly. However, provided that Disney, instantly upon being sued, tried to publicly disgrace Johansson by saying her $20 million base payday for the movie and principally accusing her of not caring concerning the pandemic, it feels unlikely Disney goes to return out of this smelling like a rose. The undeniable fact that the corporate desires to maneuver the swimsuit to non-public arbitration inside a trial may converse to that, however to be truthful, Disney has acknowledged that is additionally a part of her contact.

However, to be truthful to Johansson, Disney has a lengthy, lengthy, long historical past of making an attempt to pay the individuals who have made the corporate price $122 billion as little as attainable. So good for the Black Widow, like one other feminine Marvel hero, for realizing her price.

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