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Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney Over ‘Black Widow’ Streaming Release
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:36 pm
LINK
ETA: Disney responds
quote:
Black Widow has a new enemy: the Walt Disney Co.
Scarlett Johansson, star of the latest Marvel movie “Black Widow,” filed a lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Disney, alleging her contract was breached when the media giant released the film on its Disney+ streaming service at the same time as its theatrical debut.
Ms. Johansson said in the suit that her agreement with Disney’s Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release, and her salary was based in large part on the box-office performance of the film.
Disney couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.
The suit could be a bellwether for the entertainment industry. Major media companies are prioritizing their streaming services in pursuit of growth, and are increasingly putting their high-value content on those platforms. Those changes have significant financial implications for actors and producers, who want to ensure that growth in streaming doesn’t come at their expense.
“This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts,” said John Berlinski, an attorney at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP who represents Ms. Johansson.
ETA: Disney responds
quote:
Disney has issued a statement on Scarlett Johansson’s #BlackWidow lawsuit:
“There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” the release of ‘Black Widow’ on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.”
This post was edited on 7/29/21 at 5:39 pm
19
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:38 pm to RLDSC FAN
quote:
Disney couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:40 pm to RLDSC FAN
Ironman and Captain America would never
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:43 pm to Bottom9
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:46 pm to RLDSC FAN
I mean sound like she has a case, but really, she is so c*nty, i really dont give a frick.
This post was edited on 7/29/21 at 12:46 pm
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:53 pm to CarRamrod
At least now we know what character won't be resurrected with the multiverse.
Or at least what actress' version of a character.
Or at least what actress' version of a character.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 12:57 pm to RLDSC FAN
This seems silly on the surface, but if this is true:
..then it seems like Disney is in the wrong. I'd imagine they'd either owe her some sort of payment, or a portion of purchases on D+ (assuming it was a paid one and not included in a regular subscription).
quote:
her agreement with Disney’s Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release, and her salary was based in large part on the box-office performance
..then it seems like Disney is in the wrong. I'd imagine they'd either owe her some sort of payment, or a portion of purchases on D+ (assuming it was a paid one and not included in a regular subscription).
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:00 pm to CocomoLSU
It could be why they tried for so long to not give it the simultaneous release.
But yeah, it's a paid extra on D+, so I assume a settlement is incoming if not most of the way there already. I doubt this was unexpected.
But yeah, it's a paid extra on D+, so I assume a settlement is incoming if not most of the way there already. I doubt this was unexpected.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:01 pm to RLDSC FAN
Disney will prob offer her a similar deal Warner Bros gave Gal Gadot for streaming WW2 on HBO Max.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:02 pm to CocomoLSU
quote:
Scott Mendelson Forbes
Not a surprise...
She likely wanted to wait and see how the movie performed theatrically. But with the movie only performing "okay" worldwide and China's release (which will likely be affected by piracy due to Disney+) now in doubt, she now arguably has numbers to back up "actual harm."
quote:
I would argue, for better or worse, BLACK WIDOW was released when it was because they needed to be able to offer up the Disney+ HAWKEYE television show, which plays directly after the events of BLACK WIDOW. Disney+ was a situational requirement, but it still cost Johansson $$.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:06 pm to RLDSC FAN
Arguably, the biggest harm done to Black Widow's box office was not releasing it in March 2019 instead of Captain Marvel.
Black Widow is a Phase 3 movie masquerading as a Phase 4 movie.
Black Widow is a Phase 3 movie masquerading as a Phase 4 movie.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:07 pm to RLDSC FAN
I imagine it also depends on what "box office performance" means. I have to assume it's gross, since no actor would be stupid enough to take a "net" deal with Hollywood Accounting being a thing. But who knows.
I also wonder what the box office would've been like even without D+...I can't imagine Black Widow is some huge draw.
I also wonder what the box office would've been like even without D+...I can't imagine Black Widow is some huge draw.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:11 pm to RLDSC FAN
quote:
Ms. Johansson said in the suit that her agreement with Disney’s Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release
Well that should be pretty easy to figure out.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:15 pm to RLDSC FAN
Seems like she should get a cut of the premium streaming profit equal to what she would get from the box office/ theatrical release.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:16 pm to RLDSC FAN
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:21 pm to RLDSC FAN
I’m surprised it took this long. Guys like Christopher Nolan and others mentioned this whenever the direct to streaming thing was announced for HBOMax
A lot of the bigger stars make their salary on the back end with percentages. They take a lower salary to fit in the budget of the studio then take in huge bonuses on the back end cut
I’m sure some of you on here will argue “that’s the risk she took” by taking the back end percentage, however not releasing these movies in the theater and releasing them for “free” essentially is certainly a change big enough that would be reasonable enough to constitute as material change to the agreement large enough to breach the entire thing which lead us to this point, which is a court battle to decide proper compensation
A lot of the bigger stars make their salary on the back end with percentages. They take a lower salary to fit in the budget of the studio then take in huge bonuses on the back end cut
I’m sure some of you on here will argue “that’s the risk she took” by taking the back end percentage, however not releasing these movies in the theater and releasing them for “free” essentially is certainly a change big enough that would be reasonable enough to constitute as material change to the agreement large enough to breach the entire thing which lead us to this point, which is a court battle to decide proper compensation
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:22 pm to RLDSC FAN
I hope Matt Murdock represents her in court.
Get some of that RDJ money.
Get some of that RDJ money.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:36 pm to KamaCausey_LSU
quote:
Seems like she should get a cut of the premium streaming profit equal to what she would get from the box office/ theatrical release.
Problem is there is no real “streaming profit” to based it off of and there isn’t really any reliable and reportable data about 1 movie streamings impact on the companies bottom line.
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:38 pm to RLDSC FAN
Maybe the movie would've done better if (spoiler):
Taskmaster was anything resembling the comic version instead of some terrible SJW throw-in wearing a loosely similar-looking suit
Taskmaster was anything resembling the comic version instead of some terrible SJW throw-in wearing a loosely similar-looking suit
Posted on 7/29/21 at 1:38 pm to RLDSC FAN
quote:
her agreement with Disney’s Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release, and her salary was based in large part on the box-office performance
Well if this is in her contract she 100% has a case. Disney should absolutely be giving her a percentage of those streaming numbers they were crowing about.
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