Scarlett Johansson Reflects On Lawsuit With Disney And Says She Doesn't Hold A Grudge

As a long-time Marvel fan and avid gamer, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions when it comes to the saga between Scarlett Johansson and Disney over Black Widow’s release. I remember feeling excited and eagerly anticipating the standalone movie for the beloved Avengers character. However, the lawsuit that ensued left a sour taste in my mouth.


Scarlett Johansson has spoken about her legal dispute with Disney over the Black Widow movie release, expressing that she harbors no ill feelings towards the situation. This comes as no shock since Johansson continues to collaborate with Disney, working on new projects for the studio.

To clarify, Johansson’s legal team took Disney to court due to their decision to offer “Black Widow” on Disney+ Premier Access during the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2021. According to her contract, the movie was meant to have an exclusive theater release, and missing out on this allegedly cost Johansson significant sums of money in additional income. The film did appear in cinemas alongside its Disney+ debut, but it wasn’t a strictly theatrical-only release.

Johansson spoke with The New York Times (as reported by Variety), expressing that she doesn’t bear a grudge. In her opinion, it was a mistake from the past with inadequate judgment and leadership. The situation felt unprofessional to her, and she was deeply disappointed because she had kept hope until her team advised her to take action.

When Johansson filed her lawsuit against Disney, I was surprised by Disney’s response. They firmly believed that there was absolutely no basis for Johansson’s allegations. To add to the disappointment, they expressed their sadness over Johansson’s decision to sue during such a challenging time, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic causing havoc around the world. Furthermore, Disney made public Johansson’s earning from Black Widow, revealing it was $20 million.

After lengthy negotiations, Disney and Johansson reached an agreement. According to Deadline, Johansson received a payment of approximately $40 million. At that point, Johansson expressed her excitement about continuing her collaboration with Disney on future projects. Reports indicate that Johansson will both star in and produce Disney’s forthcoming Tower of Terror film.

Johansson’s statement suggests that she likely won’t reprise her role as Black Widow in the near future. She has expressed feeling finished with Marvel, using the term “done,” and described her experience making The Avengers as being akin to a “sausage party.” It seems highly unlikely that she would return under these circumstances, requiring an extraordinary turn of events for her to do so.

Meanwhile, The Avengers 5 is in the works and could feature 60 different MCU characters.

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2024-07-17 19:40