Disney’s decision to release Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow” on Disney+ via Premier Access simultaneously with its theatrical release has sparked a legal battle with the film’s star Scarlett Johansson.
The Wall Street Journal says in a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorneys for Johansson allege that Johansson’s contract was breached when the studio opted not to debut the film exclusively in cinemas.
They claim that decision depressed ticket sales. As much of Johansson’s compensation was tied to the box office performance of the film, if it hit certain benchmarks then bonuses would kick in – bonuses said to be in the neighborhood of around $50 million.
The suit says: “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.”
The film debuted at $158 million globally at the box-office and pulled in a further $60 million on Disney+ that weekend. Ticket sales however have since steeply declined with the film now standing at $319 million globally – on track to become one of the lowest-grossing Marvel movies of all time. Further streaming figures have not been disclosed.
The lawsuit could set a precedent with other actors potentially seeking additional compensation for films that migrated to streaming services, while contracts will likely have stricter language regarding compensation if theatrical releases are compromised or bypassed.
Disney has subsequently responded to the suit, slamming the actress for and countering that it complied with the terms of Johansson’s deal. In a statement on Variety they say:
“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.”
The company says the actress has already received $20 million for her work and argued that the film’s release on Disney+ with Premier Access has “significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20 million she has received to date.”
Disney did not indicate if her pact was renegotiated so that she could share in streaming rental revenue.
