One of the biggest crises that Disney faced during former CEO Bob Chapek’s tenure, was the studio’s very public dispute with Marvel Star Scarlet Johansson following the release of 2021’s Black Widow.
After years of development, Johansson’s Natasha Rominaov finally got the chance to shine in her own film. What nobody could have seen coming however was the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Disney Plus
Due to the pandemic, and the shutdown of movie theaters that accompanied it, Black Widow’s release was pushed back three times until finally debuting on July 9, 2021.
Disney’s Surprising Black Widow Release
In a first for Marvel, Disney decided to release the film on Disney+ with Premier Access simultaneously with its release in theaters. This was done despite the fact that Johansson’s contract specifically stipulated that Black Widow be released exclusively in theaters.
Photo: Disney
The film grossed over $379 million worldwide, setting several pandemic box office records.
Despite the film’s success at the box office, Disney’s decision to release the film on streaming simultaneously with its in-theater release caused conflict with Johansson, who had contract bonuses based on the film’s box office return.
Source: bgr.com
Johansson Vs. Disney
After months of behind-the-scenes work to get Disney to make good on the millions of dollars that Johansson lost out on due to Disney’s release strategy, the actress finally sued the company in court.
In a move that would have likely never occurred under Bob Iger, Disney released a statement slamming Johansson for her “callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Photo: CNBC
It was a shocking public attack from Disney, on an actress who not only had appeared in eight Marvel movies, but was also a fan of the Disney brand
“I was sad and disappointed. But mostly sad,” she says. “It was such a surreal moment because we were all isolated and just sort of emerging a little bit. I was also really heavily pregnant, too, which in a weird way was amazing timing. Suddenly, your entire attention is drawn to this miracle of life. So, I had the most wonderful distraction in the world and soon after had a beautiful baby.”
Image Source: variety.com
A Responsibility To Respond
While Johannson may have been comforted by her domestic bliss, her agent Bryan Laurd was livid.
“I lost my mind and said, ‘How dare you make it seem like she’s not worth this money or that she somehow hasn’t earned it?’” he recalls. “She and I were very much in lockstep about what this was. And she had the conviction to let me fight back. A lot of people wouldn’t do that. And part of the reason she did it is because she thought, in the position she’s in, she had a responsibility not just to herself but to other people who were being confronted with this change.”
Photo: CNN
Two months later, Johansson and Disney settled their suit. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the actress reportedly received a payout that eclipsed $40 million.
By successfully challenging Disney, Johansson joined a short list of actors who had successfully sued studios. The Black Widow case also proved to have ramifications throughout Hollywood as it was the first big lawsuit of the streaming era.
“I couldn’t even walk through a restaurant without somebody saying, ‘Good for you. Stand up for yourself,’” she says. “I could see that it had a bigger impact. I got support from strangers that have no skin in the game at all.”
Happy Times Are Here Again
Happily, the bad blood between Johansson and Disney has dissipated. The actress is working with the studio on a planned Tower of Terror film based on the popular theme park attraction. Taika Waititi is set to direct.
Additionally, the actress continues to be a passionate Disney fan, visiting Walt Disney World 10 times a year and showing a real love for Disney’s rich history.
“We had annual passes to Disney World, and I have a real passion for the Disney parks. Also, when I was growing up, it was a great time for Disney animation — ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Lion King’ with the incredible soundtrack. Like, I will be pre-buying tickets to ‘The Little Mermaid.’ I actually need to text my sister about that,”
Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal..© Marvel 2016
In the end, it is good to see Johansson remaining in the Disney fold, even if her time in the MCU is over.
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