The precise terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
Following the premier of the MCU’s Black Widow back in July, the film’s star Scarlett Johansson launched a major lawsuit against Marvel’s parent company, Disney. When Johansson first inked her deal for the film, it was stipulated that it would receive an exclusive theatrical debut, and that her pay would reflect that. However, the decision to premier Black Widow both in theaters and on Disney’s Disney+ streaming service was made last minute, and the simultaneous release unsurprisingly ate up the theatrical premier’s sales. This, according to Johansson’s lawsuit, cost her potentially millions in box office bonuses. This lawsuit served as a tentpole for several other major actors with concerns about the dual-releasing state of the entertainment industry brought about by the pandemic, but it seems, at least for the moment, that this one at least has been dealt with.
According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Johansson and Disney have successfully settled the lawsuit, though the precise terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. If nothing else, it seems things have ended on amicable terms, and Johansson will continue to work with Marvel and Disney as a mainstay of the MCU.
Scarlett Johansson and Disney have settled her blockbuster #BlackWidow lawsuit. https://t.co/VP2Us9k8Nl pic.twitter.com/RGNucOhTou
— Variety (@Variety) October 1, 2021
“I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney,” stated Johansson. “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.”
“I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson regarding Black Widow,” said Disney Studios chairman Alan Bergman. “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.”
