Disney Settles Scarlett Johansson Trial Over “Black Widow” Streaming Strategy

Disney and Scarlett Johansson are no longer outdone. The parties have reached a settlement for the lawsuit brought by Johansson over the hybrid release strategy used to Black Widow. If you remember, the actor sued Disney over the company’s decision to release his film in theaters and on Disney + at the same time, accusing the entertainment giant of breach of contract.

Johansson’s camp argued that Black Widow was supposed to hit theaters exclusively as part of its contract with Marvel. According to the lawsuit she filed, she could lose up to $ 50 million due to the hybrid release, given that her pay is directly tied to the film’s box office success and does not include a reduction of what Disney would do with streaming. People had to pay $ 30 for a Premier Access pass to watch the movie on Disney +, and the company said Black Widow earned $ 60 million from streaming in its opening weekend.

His lawsuit also said his side tried to contact Disney and Marvel to renegotiate their deal, but they apparently did not react. Neither side has disclosed the terms of their deal, but both have issued a statement mentioning future collaborations. Alan Bergman, president of Walt Disney Studios, said he was “looking forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s. The tower of terror. “

Meanwhile, entertainment workers brace for a strike as studios like Disney are rapidly producing content after the pandemic restrictions are lifted. The situation led to poor working conditions with long hours and no breaks for the production team. Entertainment unions are hoping to convince studios to make changes, including ending the lower pay scale for smaller streaming services. Under current rules, streaming services with less than 20 million subscribers like Apple TV + can pay their employees lower wages.