Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson and The Walt Disney Company have settled a lawsuit against Disney over the profits and payment system for Black Widow. Johansson had originally sued over the streaming system of Disney+, which she alleged was outside the scope of her contract and contrary to the percentage-based proceeds she should have received. In return, Disney had taken a public position of Johansson acting immorally by even filing the lawsuit.
The stakes had been high for both sides. For Johansson, the chance of being blacklisted by Disney and other studios threatened to derail her career at its prime. For Disney, a trial would have threatened to make public its Disney+ data, as well as opening the floodgates of other actors gaining full access to streaming profits.
With Johansson’s team uninterested in private arbitration, and Disney looking to avoid a public fight that would disenfranchise groups like the Russo brothers (they being a major part of Marvel’s success and simultaneously very uncomfortable with Johansson’s situation), it would appear Disney has caved to the actress. Details are not public, but one would have to imagine that Disney had to pay Johansson compensation of some amount for Disney+ profits.
Next up for The Walt Disney Company, trying to finalize a contract with Lucasfilm head, Kathleen Kennedy.
