Several Disney Actors Reportedly Considering Litigation Following ‘Black Widow’ Lawsuit
It appears that Scarlett Johansson’s actions against the Walt Disney Company have not gone unnoticed as several Disney Actors are reportedly considering litigation following Black Widow Lawsuit.
The news hit the public earlier in July that Scarlett Johansson had taken legal action against Disney for their apparent deviation from contractually obligated release scheduling; deviations that have reportedly cost the actress in her financial recoupment from starring in the film.
As reported on Screenrant.com, the veteran actress claims that Disney’s releasing of Black Widow to Disney+ in unison with their theatrical release has cost the actress moment on the back end; this is due to her contract stating that part of her payment will come based on the films theatrical performance.
The site reported it as follows;
The news was previously announced that Johansson is pursuing legal action against the Walt Disney Company. She claims that by releasing Black Widow on Disney+ at the same time as the theatrical release, she lost money on the back-end that she’s paid based on the theatrical box office performance. Johansson alleges that Disney used the film as an opportunity to boost subscriptions to their streaming service.
What is an interesting and concerning development for Disney, however, is that Johansson has seemed to empower other former employees, as several Disney actors reportedly considering litigation following the Black Widow Lawsuit.
Screenrant notes Variety had reported that these actors have responded to Johnasson’s lawsuit with a similar desire to take legal action against Walt Disney Studios for the same shift of focus for their films.
It is interesting to consider that Disney seems to be the only Studio to receive this kind of retaliation from their on-screen talent.
Variety itself noted that Warner Bros.- who announced the entirety of their 2021 film slate will debut on HBO Max in conjunction with their theatrical schedule- were able to privately handle various actors’ issues with the model moving forward.
The reworking of various contracts costs Warner Bros. upwards of $250 million but kept their talent in a satisfying place in order to avoid the kind of negative publicity and talent mistrust that seems to be occurring with Disney’s swift transition to a streaming centered model.
The lawsuit is yet to swing one way or another, but Johansson has certainly ignited a very necessary and previously avoided conversation.
With Disney films like Mulan, Raya and the Last Dragon, Cruella, and Jungle Cruise, and Pixar films such as Onward, Soul, and Luca, all releasing dually in theatres and on Disney+, it is interesting to consider how much of the on-screen talent Disney has refrained from compensating in accordance with the change.
The story is still unfolding, and no additional lawsuits have been filed to this point, but it is certainly worth keeping an eye on as several outlets have reported that Johnasson’s legal action won’t be the last attack on Walt Disney Studios.