Black Widow Lawsuit filed by Scarlett Johansson Against Disney comes to a Settlement

It has been reported that Disney and Scarlett Johansson have reached a settlement agreement on the actress’s lawsuit against the company for releasing “Black Widow” to streaming subscribers on the same day it was released in theaters.

Johansson and Disney Coming to Terms

Johansson sued Disney in July, alleging that the studio violated her contract by offering the film on Disney+ streaming service when it was still in cinemas.

She stated that the decision deprived her of possible earnings.

The terms of Disney’s agreement with Johansson have not been disclosed.

Alan Bergman, Disney Studios’ content chairman, noted in a statement that he is pleased that they were able to reach an arrangement with Scarlett Johansson concerning Black Widow.

He added that they value Johansson’s contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to collaborating on several upcoming projects, like Disney’s Tower of Terror.

Johansson also expressed gratitude for resolving her disputes with the entertainment giant and expressed excitement about future collaborations.

According to her statement, she is very pleased with the work they have accomplished together throughout the years and has greatly enjoyed her creative partnership with the team.

Johansson featured in Black Widow as the film’s title Russian assassin-turned-Avenger, a character she has portrayed in nine Marvel films.

In July, she filed the Black Widow Lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

It contended that she was guaranteed a “theatrical release” of Black Widow by Marvel Studios, which Disney controls.

She understood this to mean that a “window” of time should pass before it was streamed – a period usually lasted 90 days.

Disney responded that it had completely complied with the contract at the time and that her action lacked any merit whatsoever.

Scarlett Johansson v. The Walt Disney Co.

In her case, Johansson claimed that simultaneously distributing the film on Disney+ Premier Access and in cinemas affected the film’s box office success and her compensation, which included a percentage of the film’s box office revenues.

As Johansson, Disney, Marvel, and the majority of Hollywood are well aware that a “theatrical release” is one that is exclusive to theaters, the lawsuit states.

Disney was well aware of this agreement yet directed Marvel to violate it by releasing the film on the Disney+ streaming service on the same day it opened in theaters.

According to Johansson, she has given Disney and Marvel every opportunity to make things right. Instead, she claims that Disney chose to distribute the picture on its streaming platform so it could keep the film’s proceeds for itself, build the subscriber base of Disney+, and boost the stock price of Disney.

About the Film

Black Widow, which premiered simultaneously in cinemas and on Disney+ on 9 July, made a new box office record for a movie during the pandemic in its opening weekend, grossing $218 million (£161 million), but then saw a dramatic decline in box office receipts.

As per a film tracking firm, it has grossed more than $378 million at the worldwide box office.

Additionally, Disney reported that the film made approximately $60 million in its first 20 days of release from streaming purchases.

With the majority of theaters reopening, Disney, along with fellow studio Warner Bros., has opted to continue with a dual release strategy for the major films.

Johansson topped the list of the world’s highest-paid actresses of Forbes Magazine in 2018 and 2019, with estimated earnings before taxes exceeding $56 million in the year to June 2019.

Editor’s Note on Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow Settlement With Disney:

This article is written to inform you of Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney after it breached its contract regarding Black Widow. We also recommend you read Kanya West Sunday Service Settlement.

Case Name & No.: Periwinkle Entertainment Inc. v. The Walt Disney Co., Case No. 21STCV27831

Jurisdiction: Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles

Allegations: Disney violated its contract with Scarlett Johansson regarding the Black Widow film cinematic and streaming release

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(PC – JC Captain)