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Scarlett Johannson exited the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Black Widow, but made clear she wasn't fully out the door after filing a lawsuit against Disney, alleging breach of contract.
The alleged breach occurred when Disney allowed the movie a simultaneous release in theaters and on Disney+. Johansson and her lawyers claim that the move was done without her consent and that it deprived her of potential earnings.
"In the months leading up to this lawsuit, Ms. Johansson gave Disney and Marvel every opportunity to right their wrong and make good on Marvel's promise," the lawsuit stated.
"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."
You know I really do get the issue. Disney charged more than the Theatres to see that movie and I know she got a cut of that money also— Robert Jones (@Robert Jones) 1627597101
I know this is super accurate but pic.twitter.com/1ZaeELuu12— Willard Wonkard and the Hennessy Factory (@Willard Wonkard and the Hennessy Factory) 1627582477
Regardless of whether she\u2019s rich or not. If you had an agreement and contract in place about compensation tied to certain parameters and then your company doesn\u2019t honor that arrangement, you all would be pissed off as well, regardless of how much money you already have.— Link in the bio (@Link in the bio) 1627584186
Although she has every right to take legal steps, I just wonder after an initial 20 MILLION salary from the mouse for the movie, a question I need to ask is, at what point will you be satisfied? How many more millions in pay?— JIMBO SOLAR (@JIMBO SOLAR) 1627656953
Doesn't D+ charge something ridiculous like $30 to watch a new release on the platform? It's not like it's free and I can't imagine she isn't getting a cut of that (I have no idea). Also. Disney/Marvel probably did promise theatre exclusively, but there's this COVID thing.— Jay (@Jay) 1627588524
Disney has fired back Johansson's lawsuit holds "no merit whatsoever."
"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."
Disney, when you say "callous disregard", maybe you should think about those theme parks you currently have open.https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— Mathew Buck (@Mathew Buck) 1627661702
the replies are full of people not understanding how contracts workshttps://twitter.com/Variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— emily the pollster (@emily the pollster) 1627623387
Disney lashing back at an actress who's merely fighting for what she was owed and promised by calling her greedy and making her seem insensitive to the pandemic may be the most male thing that's happened anywhere ever.https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— Suchin Mehrotra (@Suchin Mehrotra) 1627621291
Since when big corporations care about the covid pandemic https://twitter.com/variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— Gary (@Gary) 1627617525
Johansson's lawsuit said that Disney's promise to release Black Widow exclusively theatrically was broken when Disney realized that the pandemic was still raging and theaters were not necessarily safe.
Johansson's lawyers say that Disney saw the film as an "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."
an astoundingly bold comment for a company that reopened a florida theme park in july 2020https://twitter.com/variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— Trevor J. Mitchell (@Trevor J. Mitchell) 1627613186
Cool. Can they at least pay the creators for making millions off their work, then? Since it's a pandemic and many of them lost comics gigs and all?\n\nThanks.https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— Heather Antos (@Heather Antos) 1627612262
Hey @Disney, nice work using a plague that killed upwards of 600,000 Americans as an excuse for screwing an actress out of money.https://twitter.com/variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— MZS (@MZS) 1627611300
this you? literally this morning? @DisneyStudios https://twitter.com/variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/3fcoBZNG02— off-brand elsa \u2661 (@off-brand elsa \u2661) 1627611076
If someone sues you for breach of contract, and you respond with an angry tirade about covid, you absolutely breached contract.https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1420858831119081474\u00a0\u2026— Back off, War Child (@Back off, War Child) 1627608229
The lawsuit has not been settled nor has it begun court proceedings.