Emma Stone is reportedly considering suing Disney over the release of Cruella on Disney+. The villainous origin story premiered simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ on May 28, utilizing the $29.99 Premier Access feature that previous pandemic pictures Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon launched. While the Stone-led flick was considered a success amongst audiences and critics, the box office numbers weren't terribly impressive. Many speculated that Cruella's hybrid release cut into its overall numbers.

Disney's latest blockbuster to hold a dual debut was the highly-anticipated Black Widow. Though the Marvel flick saw solid opening weekend numbers for pandemic times, Natasha Romanoff herself saw a big loss. Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney, citing that Black Widow's Disney+ release was a breach of her contract. Johansson's salary is contingent on the movie's box office numbers, which she believed were hindered by the Premier Access model. Now that the powerhouse has spoken out, fellow Disney lead Emma Stone is said to be next.

RELATED: Was Cruella A Hit? Why Disney Greenlit A Sequel

Former THR Editor Matt Belloni took to his exclusive newsletter What I'm Hearing... to report that the Cruella star is currently considering a lawsuit of her own. "Emma Stone, star of Cruella, is said to be weighing her options," he wrote. Belloni also posed Emily Blunt's name as a talent that could speak out after Jungle Cruise opens this weekend. He called Disney "notoriously difficult to deal with" in these circumstances, adding that fellow creatives have been waiting in the wings for someone in the spotlight to speak out.

Black Widow and angry Mickey Mouse

Belloni indicated that Johansson has an overwhelming amount of support from fellow artists and speculated that this issue won't be quieted. Disney lawyers were quick to respond to the Oscar-nominated talent's action with a contentious statement. The studio claims that they completely adhered to all stipulations in Johansson's contract. A possible attempt to undermine the actress' claims, the statement said her salary wasn't hindered by the Disney+ release, but instead increased.

Some clarity for the unexpected controversy could no doubt come from the actual contractual documents themselves, though it's unlikely Disney would make those public. While Johansson is certainly a powerful figure, going against an almighty firm like the Walt Disney company conjures up imagery of a David and Goliath situation. The thing is, someone as sharp as Johansson wouldn't likely go head to head with Disney without fertile ground to stand on. If Stone speaks out about Cruella in the coming weeks, it could be the nail in Premier Access' coffin.

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

Source: Matt Belloni