"Disney Plus Pays Less"...'Black Widow' Lead Actress Sues Disney

Scarlett Johansson Files Lawsuit Over Breach of Appearance Fee Contract
Johansson's Side Claims "57 Billion Won in Damages"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Scarlett Johansson, an American actress starring in the Marvel movie 'Black Widow,' has filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney for breach of contract regarding her appearance fee.

On the 29th (local time), Johansson submitted a complaint with the Los Angeles (LA) Superior Court, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others.

Johansson claimed that she had previously signed a contract with Disney on the condition that 'Black Widow' would be exclusively released in theaters. However, Disney also released the movie on its streaming platform Disney+, and Johansson criticized this as a breach of contract.

'Black Widow' was released in U.S. theaters on the 9th, and Disney simultaneously released the film on Disney+ for $29.99.

Johansson's appearance fee varies depending on the box office performance, but with 'Black Widow' also being available on Disney+, theater attendance decreased, leading to a reduction in her fee as well.

In the complaint, Johansson stated that upon learning of the simultaneous theatrical and streaming release of 'Black Widow,' she attempted to renegotiate her fee, but Disney and Marvel did not respond.

A source told WSJ that the financial loss Johansson suffered due to the Disney+ release of 'Black Widow' exceeds $50 million (57.3 billion KRW).

Johansson's attorney pointed out that Disney is releasing anticipated blockbuster films directly on streaming platforms under the pretext of the COVID-19 situation, saying, "It is no longer a secret that Disney releases movies like 'Black Widow' on Disney+ to increase streaming subscribers and boost stock prices."

He added, "Disney ignored contracts with actors responsible for the success of the films and violated their rights due to a short-sighted strategy. We want to prove many things in court."

WSJ reported that this lawsuit directly illustrates the conflict between film distributors who actively utilize streaming services to secure profitability and film industry workers who prefer theatrical releases.

According to the media, Hollywood filmmakers are reportedly concerned that the expansion of streaming services could negatively impact their earnings.

In fact, for 'Black Widow,' box office revenue dropped by 67% in the second week after its theatrical release, marking the largest decline among Marvel films released since 2009.

Major media groups including Disney, WarnerMedia, and NBCUniversal are also following the trend of releasing their films simultaneously on streaming platforms and in theaters.