Scarlett Johansson is suing the Walt Disney Company over Black Widow’s release on Disney+.
Black Widow, which marks Scarlett’s final film as Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, debuted simultaneously in theaters and on streaming service Disney+ on July 9. The actress is suing the company for intentional interference with contractual relations and for inducing breach of contract.
The complaint filed on Thursday (July 29) claims that Scarlett had agreed to her salary being partly based on the film’s box-office performance and was guaranteed exclusive theatrical release.
“Why would Disney forgo hundreds of millions of dollars in box office receipts by releasing the Picture in theaters at a time when it knew the theatrical market was ‘weak,’ rather than waiting a few months for that market to recover?” the complaint stated. “On information and belief, the decision to do so was made at least in part because Disney saw the opportunity to promote its flagship subscription service using the Picture and Ms. Johansson, thereby attracting new paying monthly subscribers, retaining existing ones, and establishing Disney+ as a must-have service in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”
Black Widow is one of several movies which has been released simultaneously on streaming services and theaters amid the ongoing pandemic. According to BBC, Black Widow made around $80m in ticket sales in North America, $78m internationally, and at least $60m on Disney+.
“Disney has enjoyed the benefits of having one of Hollywood’s top actresses promote its wholly owned subscription service at no additional cost to Disney, and with the intended effect of taking money out of that actress’ own pocket,” the complaint alleged. “Through its conduct, Disney caused damage to Plaintiff by, among other things, inducing acts that cannibalized box office receipts for the Picture and thereby reduced Plaintiff’s deferred compensation and box office bonuses under the Agreement, in an amount to be proven at trial.”
Scarlett’s attorney, John Berlinski, also issued a statement saying, “It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price — and that it’s hiding behind COVID-19 as a pretext to do so.”
“But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court,” the statement continued. “This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts.”
A spokesperson from the Walt Disney Company has also issued a statement addressing the lawsuit.
“There is no merit whatsoever to this filing,” the spokesperson said in the statement. “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.”
Scarlett’s talent agency, Creative Arts Agency, has since spoken out in the actress’ defense.
“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 CAA, said in a statement Friday (July 30).
“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,” he continued.
Noting that Scarlett has appeared in nine MCU films, which has earned Disney billions in tickets sales, “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,” Bryan added.
“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,” he went on. “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.”
