How much did Scarlett Johansson and Disney settle for? Actress hints at future in MCU
After months of controversy, Scarlett Johansson has settled her contentious lawsuit with Disney. According to the Mouse House, and representatives for Johansson, the two parties have come to an agreement and hinted that she could continue to play a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Terms of the settlement are being kept a close secret, but the 'Black Widow' star is reportedly set for a massive payday from her solo film.
After filing the lawsuit in July, Johansson and Disney engaged in a very public spat, that put a massive spotlight on streaming revenues, and backend deals. Unlike other actors, Johannson's Disney deal didn't include any mention of streaming because it was signed in 2017 before Disney+ was launched. The service has now gone on to become a major moneymaker for Disney, so much so that it has its own day - Disney+ Day - celebrated on November 12.
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As we previously reported, Disney chose to release 'Black Widow' simultaneously on Disney+ as well in theatres, charging viewers $30 under its 'Premier Access' program. The move allowed Disney to profit handsomely, but avoid paying Johansson any backend profits, which is why the lawsuit was filed in the first place. Well, now it seems Johansson will be getting her due, three months after the suit was filed.
How much will ScarJo get?
When she filed the lawsuit, Johannson alleged she was shorted of $50m, that she would have otherwise got had 'Black Widow' been released only in theatres. That's a steep amount, but it was estimated by her team based on the returns brought by 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' and 'Captain Marvel' during their theatrical runs. In an August filing, Disney revealed 'Black Widow' made $125m on streaming, in addition to its $367m box office gross. Even in total, that's well short of the $1.2b Johansson's team predicted the film would have brought in.
Nonetheless, Johansson believes she is entitled to a share of the profits from Disney+, which the Mouse House appears to agree to. Details of the settlement are unlikely to be made public for a very long time, so we can only guess how much Johannson actually got. But whatever the amount, it is reportedly quite a big number. Deadline reported that the settlement was "pricey" for Disney, at over $40m. That's pretty close to her original request for $50m, so we can see how Johnasson was happy with the result.
"I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come," the actress said in a statement. Alan Bergman, the chairman of Disney Studios Content also offered a statement telling reporters, "I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson. We appreciate her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s 'Tower of Terror'."
The statements also subtlety hint that Natasha Romanoff's story isn't done in the MCU, despite her definitive death in 'Avengers: Endgame'. It is possible Johansson could reprise the role for Marvel's 'What If?', which is reportedly getting a second season. Beyond that, it's unclear what future projects Johansson could appear in, but with the multiverse now split wide open, there are endless possibilities.