Photo — Scarlett Johansson: Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Disney: The Walt Disney Company (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Short Version
In July 2021, actress Scarlett Johansson sued Disney in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging breach of contract when the studio released the Marvel movie 'Black Widow' on Disney+ Premier Access simultaneously with its theatrical release. Johansson claimed her compensation was heavily tied to box office performance. Disney criticized the suit, but the parties settled the lawsuit out of court in September 2021.
Latest Development
Scarlett Johansson and Disney Reach Settlement
Johansson and Disney announced an out-of-court settlement to end the lawsuit, with statements confirming plans to continue working together on future projects.
September 30, 2021 · Verified event
The Beef
Chronological, newest first. Every entry cites a source.
Beef timeline
September 30, 2021
Scarlett Johansson and Disney Reach Settlement
Verified eventJohansson and Disney announced an out-of-court settlement to end the lawsuit, with statements confirming plans to continue working together on future projects.
Source ↗August 2021
MCU Co-Star Elizabeth Olsen Expresses Support for Johansson
Public statementIn an interview with Vanity Fair, MCU actress Elizabeth Olsen voiced support for Johansson's decision to enforce her contract.
Source ↗July 29, 2021
Scarlett Johansson Files Lawsuit Against Disney
Legal filingJohansson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Disney, alleging that the simultaneous Disney+ release breached her agreement and deprived her of box office performance bonuses.
Source ↗July 29, 2021
Disney Rejects Lawsuit Claims in Combative Statement
Public statementDisney issued a public response calling the lawsuit without merit and criticizing it as showing disregard for the COVID-19 pandemic, while disclosing Johansson's $20 million upfront compensation.
Source ↗March 2021
Disney Announces Simultaneous Theatrical and Streaming Release
Verified eventDisney announced that 'Black Widow' would be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access, departing from the standard exclusive theatrical window.
Source ↗
Where It Stands
Resolved. The dispute was resolved on September 30, 2021, when both parties announced a settlement agreement, agreeing to continue future professional collaborations including the film 'Tower of Terror'.
Related Beefs
Same people, same category.
Related Beefs
Blake LivelyJustin Baldoni
This demonstration record describes a dispute between two co-workers on a film production that escalated into duelling legal complaints.
Johnny DeppAmber Heard
Actor Johnny Depp filed a $50 million defamation suit against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, following a 2018 Washington Post op-ed she w…
Britney SpearsJamie Spears
A long-running legal and personal dispute between pop star Britney Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, centered on his control over her lif…
Joan CrawfordBette Davis
The decades-long rivalry between Hollywood icons Joan Crawford and Bette Davis spanned studio dominance, personal romantic conflicts, Oscar…
Sources
- 1.SourceScarlett Johansson and Disney Reach Settlement · Sep 30, 2021
- 2.SourceMCU Co-Star Elizabeth Olsen Expresses Support for Johansson ·
- 3.SourceScarlett Johansson Files Lawsuit Against Disney · Jul 29, 2021
- 4.SourceDisney Rejects Lawsuit Claims in Combative Statement · Jul 29, 2021
- 5.SourceDisney Announces Simultaneous Theatrical and Streaming Release ·
Allegations are attributed to the party that made them and are not statements of fact.