Scarlett Johansson and Disney have reached an agreement over the former’s earnings from the Marvel superhero film Black Widow. Johansson filed the case in July, alleging a breach of contract after Disney elected to distribute the film simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+.
“I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney,” Johansson stated in a statement quoted by several outlets. I’m quite happy of the work we’ve done together over the years, and I’ve had a terrific time working with the team.
I am looking forward to working with you in the future.”
“I’m very pleased that we were able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson regarding Black Widow,” Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Studios Content, said in a statement. We value her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to collaborating on a variety of new projects with her, including Disney’s Tower of Terror.”
The terms of the deal have not been revealed, but according to Deadline, Disney may pay Johansson approximately $40 million (£29.7 million).
After Disney chose a “hybrid” release for Black Widow, Johansson filed a complaint, claiming that her fees were depending on the film’s box office performance. The film’s current global box office income is $377 million (£280 million), however it saw a 67 percent drop in its second week of release in the United States in July, the worst of any Marvel Cinematic Universe picture.
After Disney changed its release plan, Johansson said that her lawyers wanted to renegotiate her contract.
The complaint elicited an unexpectedly angry response from Disney, who issued a statement claiming, “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing.” The case is extremely sad and troubling because it shows a callous indifference for the Covid-19 pandemic’s severe and long-term worldwide consequences.”
The studio also took the rare step of disclosing Johansson’s $20 million advance fee. Johansson retaliated by accusing the studio of being “misogynistic.”
Johansson is now producing and starring in the Disney picture Tower of Terror, as well as co-starring with Tom Hanks and Margot Robbie in Wes Anderson’s next feature, Searchlight, which is sponsored by Disney subsidiary Searchlight.
Thanks to Andrew Pulver at The Guardian whose reporting provided the original basis for this story.
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