Scarlett Johansson and Disney Reach a Settlement Over Black Widow
Don Khan Swaylo | Sep 30, 2021 |
Scarlett Johansson and Disney have reached a settlement over their lawsuit stemming from the joint release of Black Widow, both in theaters and on Disney+. The crux of the argument was that by releasing the film on the streaming service, there would be a noticeable hit to the worldwide box office numbers. As Black Widow was the first post-lockdown blockbuster to reopen the theaters, there weren’t any comparisons to draw to this brave new world.
Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed and are likely subject to a nondisclosure agreement, as is customary in these types of proceedings. The initial ask from the Johansson side was $50,000,000.
“I’m happy to have resolved our differences with Disney,” remarked Johansson Thursday. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come.”
Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Studios Content, had this to say: “I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson regarding Black Widow. We appreciate her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s Tower of Terror.”
What started with a very public disagreement, with Johansson’s side claiming that it was personal sabotage designed to affect her bottom line, to Disney retorting that she had received a bonus of $20,000,000 due to the A-lister’s “callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Even though Disney had sought arbitration at the onset, the settlement option was always the most likely result. Originally seeming like a successful opening weekend of $80 million domestic, $78 million international, and $60 million on Disney+, it sits just a shade above fellow MCU 2021 release Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Black Widow has taken in $378,776,765 worldwide, compared to Shang-Chi’s $366,465,944 with a much shorter release right now (Black Widow: July 9th, Shang Chi: September 3rd). Ultimately, the films are looking to end up as the 20th and 21st ranked in terms of box office success in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This result must give pause to Emily Blunt and Emma Stone, who were rumored to be seeking compensation for similar situations regarding Jungle Cruise and Cruella, respectively. More than likely, there will be secretive payouts to both to keep them from engaging in litigation.
Ultimately, this is a victory for both parties. Disney saves themselves further bad publicity and doesn’t have to disclose how much money they paid to one of the top female stars in the industry, and Scarlett Johansson doesn’t burn a bridge with the most powerful media entity in the world. The only people who lose out on this are the audience; this means that the MCU and other lackluster Disney output will continue for the foreseeable future.
