Scarlett Johansson Settles Dispute With Disney Over Black Widow Film
American actress Scarlett Johansson and Walt Disney Co have resolved their legal dispute over the release of Johansson’s Marvel superhero film Black Widow. However, the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Johansson sued Disney in July, accusing the company of breaching her contract by offering the film on its subscription streaming service Disney+ when the film was still playing in cinemas.
Johansson’s complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, argued that the dual-release of Black Widow had reduced her compensation which the actress said was to be based in part on box office revenue from an exclusive run in cinemas.
However, at the time, Disney countered that there was “no merit” to Johansson’s claims and asserted that it had complied with the terms of her contract. Disney also said that Johansson’s lawsuit showed “callous disregard” for audience safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement released on Thursday, Alan Bergman, content chairman for Disney Studios, said, “I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson regarding Black Widow.”
Bergman went on to say that Disney was looking forward to working with Johansson on a number of upcoming projects, including plans for her to produce and star in a film based on Disney’s Tower of Terror theme park rides.
Johansson also said she was happy to have resolved her differences with Disney and was looking forward to future collaborations. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team,” her statement said.
