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Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the release of Black Widow

Photo credit: David Crotty - Getty Images
Photo credit: David Crotty - Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the release of Black Widow - a move the company have called "sad and distressing."

In a new lawsuit brought by the actress, Scarlett claims that her contract with Disney’s Marvel Entertainment was for a guaranteed exclusive movie theatre release.

The 36-year-old, who plays Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow, added the bulk of her salary is dependent on the film’s box office performance, before alleging that the move to streaming prevented her from ‘realising the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel’.

John Berlinski, an attorney at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP who represents Johansson, added in a statement, "This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honour its contracts."

Photo credit: David Crotty - Getty Images
Photo credit: David Crotty - Getty Images

In response, Disney released a statement of their own which read (via The Guardian):

"There is no merit whatsoever to this filing.The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Disney announced in March that the film, which was released in July 2021, would be available to rent on Disney+ on the same day as it dropped in cinemas.

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