Epic battles take place all the time in the Marvel universe, but now a real battle royale has broken out between the Disney-owned studio …
Epic battles take place all the time in the Marvel universe, but now a real battle royale has broken out between the Disney-owned studio and one of its biggest stars that could have significant repercussions throughout Hollywood. Actress Scarlett Johansson has sued The Walt Disney Co. over its simultaneous theatrical and streaming release of Black Widow, claiming Disney broke its promise to her that it would open the movie in cinemas first. She has alleged the “day-and-date” release benefited Disney executives while depriving her of box-office receipts. In the lawsuit filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorneys for Johansson said Marvel promised the star that Black Widow would receive a “theatrical release.” “As Ms. Johansson, Disney, Marvel, and most everyone else in Hollywood knows, a ‘theatrical release’ is a release that is exclusive to movie theatres.” Watch below: The agreement allegedly provided for Black Widow to open exclusively in cinemas for a period roughly between 90 and 120 days, which was the traditional “theatrical window” before the coronavirus pandemic upended the industry.
