American actress and Marvel star Scarlett Johansson has filed a lawsuit against Disney, alleging that her contract was breached when the media giant released the “Black Widow,” on its Disney+ streaming service at the same time as its theatrical debut. The film set a box office record for the Covid-19 pandemic, grossing $218m (£157m) in its first weekend, but box office receipts then fell sharply and Ms Johansson argues she was deprived of potential earnings.
On its first weekend, Black Widow took some $80m in ticket sales in North America and $78m internationally, plus at least $60m in Disney+ Premier Access rentals.
Ms Johansson whose salary was based on the box office performance of the film has been reported to have lost $50m. She stated that Marvel Studios which is owned by Disney promised her that Black Widow would be a "theatrical release". She said she had understood this to mean a "window" of time would pass before it would be streamed - a period that has traditionally lasted 90 days.
A Disney spokesman said Ms Johansson’s suit had no merit and is “especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.” The company said it “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 $20 million she has received to date.”
It was also observed that during the pandemic a number of Hollywood studios opted to bypass cinemas, many of which had been closed, and release their films online instead. However, most cinemas have reopened, Disney, along with fellow giant Warner Bros, has chosen to maintain a dual release strategy for their major films.
