Disney vs Scarlett Johansson: Who Really Won Black Widow's Lawsuit?

Following a months-long war of words, Black Widow's Scarlett Johansson and Disney have privately resolved their breach of contract lawsuit, but who really won? On July 29, 2021, Johansson, longtime actress in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, filed a lawsuit against entertainment giant Disney in Los Angeles Superior Court. The suit alleged that her Black Widow contract was violated when the movie was released on the Disney+ streaming service alongside its theatrical premiere. Johansson claimed that Disney’s Marvel Studios assured her of an exclusive movie theater release as a part of her agreement, emphasizing that her salary was largely based on the movie’s box-office performance.

Meanwhile, a Disney spokesperson asserted that the lawsuit had “no merit whatsoever,” calling it “especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The studio insisted that their move actually benefited Johansson by letting her earn more, aside from the $20 million she had already received. When that response was met with hostility over at Johansson’s side, it appeared Disney and Johansson were cutting ties, putting a stop to any collaboration in the future. A month later, Disney was pushing for private arbitration, which Johansson’s lawyers vehemently contradicted. In fact, they were even “looking forward” to their day in court.

However, just days after the announcement that their first court hearing was pushed back to March 2022, news broke that both parties have reached a settlement. Even though the settlement’s specifics were not publicly shared, by looking at the available details of the case, Disney arguably won the Black Widow lawsuit.

Disney Avoids Litigation

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By reaching a settlement, Disney got what it was pushing for just weeks before. The company had filed a motion for private arbitration. This meant all proceedings would be removed from public scrutiny and instead would be presented to a neutral third party making the decision. In doing so, Disney hoped to avoid sensational litigation, which would only magnify its alleged misconduct. After all, several Disney and Marvel projects were already affected by the Black Widow lawsuit. Worse, the studio’s reputation was at stake, since the public was heavily against them. Gender advocates, organizations, and influential figures in the industry also criticized Disney for its attacks on Johansson’s character. Even the Scarlet Witch actress herself, Elizabeth Olsen, aired her support, while Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch expressed his disappointment over the way Disney was handling the legal battle. Even so, although its reputation might have taken a hit in the first few months of the case, by offering a resolution, Disney actually steered clear of worse consequences.

Disney Cements Its Future Plans

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When news of the Black Widow lawsuit broke out, there were reports circulating that Emma Stone and Emily Blunt, stars of the Disney+ Premier streaming releases Cruella and Jungle Cruise, respectively, were also considering their legal options. The case certainly forced Disney to alter its talent contracts, which resulted in sequel announcements almost immediately. Only two weeks after Johansson’s filing, Cruella 2 was green-lit, and a month later, Jungle Cruise 2 was already in the works. While the details of their negotiations remained unknown, there is a great chance that Stone and Blunt leveraged the ongoing lawsuit to their advantage. The result was a win, serving the interests of the actresses, who probably received better compensation offers. When Disney revealed its sequel plans, the company might have benefited as well. With more Disney projects in development, it will be assured not only of more revenue but also of more viewers, which proves crucial as it continues to increase the value of Disney+ amidst the pandemic.

Disney Retains Its Talents

Black widow Scarlett Johansson lawsuit MCU walt disney studios

At the end of the day, no matter what was said by both parties, Johansson and Disney have resolved their differences. In June, Johansson was slated to star in the upcoming film Tower of Terror, but when the legal proceedings were initiated, it was rumored that the project was canceled. In a statement released by the Marvel actress, she said, "I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team." Johansson added that she will continue to be an active player and collaborator of Disney in the future. Meanwhile, Alan Bergman, the Chairman of Disney Studios Content, delivered his appreciation for Johansson's iconic part in building the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Similarly, he will also be anticipating “working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s Tower of Terror.” Luckily for both parties, the settlement meant that Disney would retain one of its best and highest-earning talents.

Disney+ Experiments With Premier Access

Disney was also forced to reevaluate how its future films, particularly from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, would be released. CEO Bob Chapek announced that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the MCU film preceding Black Widow, and subsequent titles would be released exclusively in theaters for 45 days before moving to Disney+. He attributed the decision to “last-minute changes,” even calling it "an interesting experiment." Johansson’s lawsuit potentially urged Disney to change its release strategy to avoid clashing with its talents over another streaming-related issue. Fortunately for Disney, despite growing concerns over the rising number of COVID cases and limited theater availability, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings performed outstandingly in the box office, earning $75 million over its first 3 days.

The case of Disney and Johansson's Black Widow legal controversy was just one of the many contract disputes in Hollywood, with most of them getting a resolution before actual hearings begin and only a handful grabbing the public’s attention. While, ultimately, Disney came out of the legal dispute ahead of Johansson, this lawsuit was a reminder that whatever path they may choose to take, talents and studios can ultimately come to an agreement that will greatly benefit both sides.

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