Scarlett Johansson on Thursday filed a complaint against Walt Disney Co., accusing the company of breaching her contract when the company released the movie on streaming at the same time it played in theatres.
Disney however said in a statement that it had complied with Johansson’s contract, saying there was “no merit” to the lawsuit. The statement also added that the release of the movie on Disney’ streaming platform had earned the “Black Widow” star some additional income on top of the $20 million she has received to date.
Johansson’s complaint which was filed in LA court, argued that the release of the “Black Widow” movie on both platforms (Marvel studio and Disney+) has somehow affected her compensation, which was partly based on box office receipts from what was supposed to be an exclusive run in cinemas.
Johansson’s complaint also claimed that Disney wanted to grow its audience and subscriber base, thereby keeping the revenues for itself, a clever way to boost Disney’s stock price. The Disney statement described Johansson’s lawsuit as “especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
