Scarlett Johansson was concerned Black Widow would release on Disney+ even before Avengers: Endgame came out. The movie, which is the first feature film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 4, was originally slated to premiere in May 2020 as one of Disney's theatrical tentpoles. Of course, its release date was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the studio eventually settling on a hybrid strategy. Black Widow premiered in theaters and on Disney+ in early July, available to stream at home via the Premier Access program.

The move proved to be beneficial for Disney. Black Widow broke pandemic era box office records in its opening weekend, netting $80 million domestically. It also brought in $60 million globally from Disney+ sales, helping raise its worldwide debut to $215 million. However, in the immediate aftermath, Black Widow's release has proven to be controversial. First, NATO blamed the Disney+ release for the movie's massive box office drop in its second weekend. Now, Johansson is suing Disney over the streaming release. As it turns out, the actress had worries about Disney+ pre-pandemic.

Related: Avengers: Endgame Theory - Natasha Sacrificed Herself to Save Yelena

In the Wall Street Journal report on Johansson's lawsuit, it's mentioned that in 2019, she was "concerned" Black Widow would release on Disney+ when it initially came out. Her reps discussed the matter with Disney in an effort to make sure the movie received a traditional theatrical release. That was the plan prior to the COVID-19 outbreak disrupting the film industry. The core issue of Johansson's lawsuit is Disney never renegotiated her contract, which included box office bonuses.

Scarlett Johansson walks as Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow

It's curious why Johansson was concerned about a Black Widow streaming release in 2019, a full year prior to the pandemic. One likely explanation is at the time of her conversations with the studio, Disney+ was gearing up for its launch as a top Netflix competitor. The allure of seeing the latest Marvel blockbuster at home would've been very appealing to potential subscribers and rivaled Netflix's original film output. Johansson was probably doing her due diligence to ensure the terms of her deal with Disney were fulfilled. Even in Disney+'s earliest days, something like Black Widow wasn't necessary to attract subscribers. The service had The Mandalorian as its flagship series, with the promise of more Marvel and Star Wars shows in the pipeline to generate interest. Disney+ also launched with a robust library lineup, including several MCU movies.

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated changes in Hollywood's standard business practices. It's understandable why Disney opted for a Black Widow hybrid release, especially since the box office remains in a state of recovery and is nowhere near to getting back to 2019 levels. The studio wanted to make as much money as possible from Black Widow, and Premier Access was a smart revenue stream to bank on. At the same time, Disney had an obligation to negotiate a new deal with Johansson to reflect the current times. - particularly since they were aware the actress was already concerned about a Black Widow streaming release.

Next: Black Widow Proves Endgame Killed the Wrong Avenger

Source: Wall Street Journal

Key Release Dates