Longtime Marvel star Scarlett Johansson and Walt Disney Studios have settled their explosive lawsuit over the star’s payout for “Black Widow.”
The superhero film, in which Johansson appeared as the lead character, was supposed to be released in theaters last year but was repeatedly postponed because to the COVID-19 epidemic.
A statement from Walt Disney Studios confirmed that the legal dispute with Johansson’s Periwinkle Entertainment – which boiled over when the movie was released in theaters and on Disney+ streaming service at the same time – had been resolved.
Recall that in July, the film was finally released in theaters and on Disney+ concurrently.
According to the star, the initial arrangement was that the film would be released only in theaters, with her receiving a portion of ticket sales.
However, Disney, like many other streaming services, published several of its movies on Disney+ during the COVID-19 epidemic to allow consumers to see them at home rather than at theaters.
In July, Johansson, one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging breach of contract on the side of the firm.
She claimed that the Disney+ release cost her millions of dollars in box office revenues.
In what resulted to a back and forth, a company spokesperson in a statement to AFP said the filing had no merit and was “sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The statement also claimed that the company fully complied with the contract and that the Disney+ streaming release “has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.”
Johansson’s lawyer had responded, claiming that the firm had attempted to weaponize her popularity while refusing to abide by the terms of their agreement.
Disney filed a petition in August to transfer the dispute to binding arbitration, a secret process in which both parties can strike an agreement.
According to a statement given to AFP on Thursday, the mother of one stated that in the litigation, both sides had reached a common ground.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come,” she said.
Similarly, Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Studios Content, expressed satisfaction with the mutual arrangement made with both sides and expressed interest in working with the celebrity in the future.
“We appreciate her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s Tower of Terror,” the statement read.
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