Scarlett Johansson, the star of Marvel’s “Black Widow,” sued Disney for breach of contract over the release of the film on the media giant’s streaming service at the same time as its debut in theaters earlier this month.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, says Johansson’s agreement with Disney ‘s Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive release in theaters, with a salary tied to the box-office performance. The Wall Street Journal reported that the lawsuit accused Disney of “intentionally” inducing the breach “without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.”
A Disney spokesman told the Journal the lawsuit had no merit, and added it was “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 her contract, and Johansson has received $20 million in compensation so far, the spokesman said.
The lawsuit could be a trendsetter in the entertainment business. Movie-theater chains have been trying to climb back after months of pandemic-forced shutdowns last year, only to confront decisions by major studios to release new films on their own streaming operations in addition to traditional theaters. The emphasis on streaming also has ramifications for actors and producers, the Journal reported. Johansson’s claim basically says Disney’s release on streaming, for $30, ate into the movie’s box-office sales. The movie, delayed a year because of the pandemic, took in $80 million in North America on its first weekend. The total was $215 million including international theaters and streaming, but ticket sales dropped off quickly after that, according to the Associated Press.
In the past year, Disney through its Disney+ platform, AT&T ‘s WarnerMedia through HBOMax, and Comcast through its Peacock platform have hosted major movie releases alongside theatrical premieres. The moves helped the media giants build their bases of streaming users, but they also were intended to ensure there were audiences for new releases, given that theaters were either shut down or had capacity limits. Many theaters have since reopened, but the streaming wars continue. Comcast’s NBCUniversal released “The Boss Baby: Family Business” earlier this month on its Peacock platform and in theaters.
Representatives for Johansson tried to renegotiate her contract after hearing about plans to release “Black Widow” simultaneously, the lawsuit said. The Journal reported it could cost the actor more than $50 million, citing a person familiar with her contract. Disney shares were flat Thursday, at $179.