Bob Iger, the former CEO of the Walt Disney Company, is reportedly embarrassed by Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit over the release of Black Widow. In March, Disney made the surprising decision to give the MCU's first Phase 4 movie, Black Widow, a Disney+ Premier Access release in addition to a theatrical run. Theater owners blasted the decision after the movie's box office numbers dropped considerably in its second weekend, but their reaction was nothing compared to Johansson's response. The actress shocked the world last week when she sued Disney for allegedly breaching their contract with her by giving Black Widow a streaming release, which cost her millions of dollars.

Johansson was set to earn up to $50 million in box office bonuses, and she's claimed that Disney was not justified in their reneging of their agreement. In response, Disney released a searing statement that called Johansson's lawsuit meritless and "callous." in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, which is the primary reasoning behind many streaming releases for the past year. The fight has only gotten messier since then, with Johansson and various unions firing back against the Mouse House.

Related: Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow Lawsuit Echoes Marvel's Biggest Controversy

A new report from The Wrap that places the blame for this entire fiasco on current Disney CEO Bob Chapek claims that his predecessor Iger is mortified. According to a Disney insider, Iger believes Chapek and the company "bungled it." Disney's chief communications officer Zenia Mucha said in an email, "None of this is true period," and did not elaborate. However, it's also noted that Mucha was the one to issue the company's blistering statement against Johansson.

Split image showing a poster for Black Widow and the Disney+ logo

Chapek took over Disney after Iger stepped down at the end of last year. Under Iger's care from 2005 to 2020, Disney grew to unprecedented heights. For example, it was during that time that the company acquired Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, and Fox. Iger's time at Disney was marked by his impressive relationships with talent, something that Chapek reportedly does not have. Iger remains Disney's executive chairman until the end of the year.

Public opinion so far seems to be on Johansson's side. Even before Disney's questionable response, it was clear that the company had made a mistake in not negotiating a different deal with Johansson. Now other stars like Cruella's Emma Stone are considering lawsuits of their own, which would further put Disney in hot water. How this legal battle will shake out remains to be seen, but it sounds like even those within Disney are unhappy with how things are progressing. Even Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige is reportedly angry over the circumstances behind Black Widow's release, which further supports the idea that Chapek isn't the best at fostering relationships with his creatives. The behind the scenes proceedings will largely remain a mystery, but this paints a small picture about what's going on.

More: Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow Lawsuit Against Disney Explained

Source: The Wrap

Key Release Dates