Written By Kieran Bugg
Unless you’ve been living off the grid like Black Widow was in her solo movie, you’ve no doubt heard of the drama currently going on between the film’s star Scarlett Johansson and Marvel Studios’ parent company Disney.
Black Widow was originally scheduled to be released in May 1st 2020 with Scarlett Johansson’s contract stating her payment for the film would be $50 million from the box office revenue.
However, due to the pandemic, the film suffered several push backs and would eventually end up being released in theatres and on Disney Plus.
This is simultaneously much to the dismay of the head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, and Scarlett Johansson herself.
This is what has led to the actress filing a lawsuit against the conglomerate, claiming that the hybrid release of the movie was a “breach of her contract with Marvel and Disney” as she was promised a theater exclusivity release before the movie would be added to Disney Plus and also that this decision has affected the box office intake and thus her financially.
Disney shortly responded after calling the situation “sad and distressing” with “no merit whatsoever” and accusing Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit as a “callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Image: Getty Images
It appears, however, that the public and several others within the industry are siding with Scarlett Johansson such as Emma Stone who said to be “weighing her options” in suing Disney for the hybrid release of her most recent movie Cruella and even Feige is reportedly “angry and embarrassed” with Disney for it’s treatment of both the movie and it’s star.
While this will obviously signal YouTubers to spread rumors of Feige quitting Marvel for clicks, they are not true.
Yes, Feige is upset with his business partners over at Disney but we can assure you that he will not quit Marvel.
Furthermore we can also say that despite this legal dispute with Disney Plus, Scarlett Johansson won’t be exiting the MCU just yet.
She will continue to work with both Feige and Marvel Studios.
Florence Pugh will be the MCU’s next Black Widow going forward and is likely going to spearhead a possible sequel to Black Widow in the future.
Scarlett Johansson Targets Disney With Lawsuit, But What’s Next?
Image: Marvel Studios
Given that Scarlett Johansson served as a Executive Producer on her solo film, it’s highly possible she’ll continue to do so on any sequels to help Pugh both on screen in possible flashbacks and off screen as a mentor.
This is all strictly business and will most likely be settled out of court to avoid more bad press for Disney.
Both Scarlett Johansson and Disney have used the press to gain the upper hand in this situation.
This is much like what Sony did two years ago during SpiderGate.
With Scarlett Johansson winning the public’s support as well as fellow actors and the Me Too movement, Disney in a tight spot.
Disney will without a doubt want to avoid more damage to their brand so it’s highly likely this be resolved peacefully out of the public eye. It’s only a matter of when.
Related: Scarlett Johansson Not Done as Black Widow
