Star of Scarlett Johansson's recent lawsuit against Disney has incited a ripple effect impacting both Disney and the MCU. The actor made headlines several weeks after the movie's release when she filed a lawsuit against Disney, alleging a breach of contract related to the Black Widow's concurrent release in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. The lawsuit states that Disney violated Johansson's contract when it opted for Black Widow's same-day streaming debut after guaranteeing its exclusive theatrical release. Disney also failed to renegotiate Johannson's earnings for the film, which were largely structured around its box office performance.
Since the initial filing in late July, Disney has fired back, denying the suit's merit and accusing Johansson of "callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic." Disney has also attempted to move the case to closed-door arbitration. The Natasha Romanoff actor’s legal team labeled the company's response "a misogynistic attack," blasting Disney for allegedly shortchanging Johansson of $50 million.
As Johansson's legal battle with Disney persists, the film world has already reacted in a variety of ways. Many, including fellow Marvel actor Elizabeth Olsen, have voiced their for the actor, while Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige is said to be "angry and embarrassed" over Disney's management of the situation. Here's every major development resulting from Johannson's lawsuit.
Emma Stone's Cruella Return
Amid reports of Emma Stone considering filing a lawsuit of her own against Disney regarding the streaming release of Cruella 2 deal. As a result, Disney will have a much harder time getting the upper hand over its stars in future projects.
Emily Blunt To Return For Jungle Cruise Sequel
Similar to Stone, Emily Blunt reportedly weighed her legal options in relation to Jungle Cruise 2.
Russo Bros. Hesitant To Direct Another MCU Film
Arguably the biggest bombshell following the news of Johansson's lawsuit dropped when the directors of both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Joe and Anthony Russo, were reported as averse to working on future Marvel projects as a result of the tension generated by the suit. According to the Russo brothers' refusal to direct another MCU project comes amid masses of well-known directors affirming their stance against same-day streaming releases for their films. This recent development could spark even more filmmakers walking away from Disney and the MCU if hybrid releases persist.
Bob Chapek and Disney Double Down
Disney CEO Bob Chapek has embroiled himself in controversy as of late. In addition to drawing the ire of some MCU fans when he referred Disney's denial of any mishandling of the actor's Black Widow contract, claiming, “We’ve figured out ways to fairly compensate our talent and since Covid has begun we have entered into hundreds of talent arrangements with our talent and by and large they have gone very, very smoothly.” Chapek's doubling-down paired with Disney's at-large defiant response to Johansson's claims show no indication of the conflict resolving itself easily. Accordingly, the Black Widow actor's lawsuit is primed to evoke any number of changes in Disney and the MCU going forward.
Disney's Reputation Suffers
The public opinion on Johansson's lawsuit against Disney has shifted heavily in favor of the Black Widow actor. A day after the news of the lawsuit broke, Doctor Strange star's comments reflect the widespread disappointment with Disney for its failure to properly manage the situation. Regardless of the case’s outcome, Disney has taken a significant blow to its reputation. Not even a win in court would remedy the significant backlash the studio has faced from numerous influential entities in the film industry.
MCU's Release Strategy Changes
Following Black Widow's controversial hybrid release resulted in Johansson's lawsuit, Disney has opted for a different approach for the MCU's subsequent titles. Instead of a concurrent debut in theaters and on Disney+, the studio elected to release Shang-Chi exclusively in theaters for a 45-day window before the film moves to the streaming platform. Shang-Chi's resounding box-office success, which included setting a Eternals, slated to debut on November 5. While the impact of Johansson's lawsuit on Disney's change of strategy is merely speculative, a reasonable assumption could infer that the studio was keen on avoiding further streaming-related conflicts with its high-profile talent. It remains to be seen whether or not Disney’s turmoil will be a thing of the past or if another star will take the studio to court.
Next: Every Disney+ Release Controversy: Black Widow, Pixar, Cruella & More
