Scarlett Johansson sues Disney for streaming 'Black Widow' premiere
The American actress made $ 20 million for her role, but she disagrees with the simultaneous premiere on Disney +
Scarlett Johansson, the star of the Marvel superhero movie "Black Widow," sued Walt Disney Co on Thursday, alleging the company breached its contract by streaming the movie at the same time it was opening in theaters.
Disney said the lawsuit was "without merit" and that she has honored her contract. She added in a statement that the release of the film on her streaming platform had "significantly enhanced her (Johansson's) ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $ 20 million she has received to date."
Johansson's lawsuit alleges that Disney wanted to steer the public to Disney +, "where it could keep the revenue for itself while simultaneously growing the Disney + subscriber base, a proven way to boost Disney's share price."
"Black Widow" opened in theaters July 9 for a $ 30 fee on the Disney + streaming service. Disney has been testing the double-release plan for some movies during the Covid-19 pandemic as the company tries to boost its streaming service.
"Second, Disney wanted to substantially devalue Ms. Johansson's settlement and thus enrich itself," says the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages to be determined at trial.
