The Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson is suing The Walt Disney Company, which owns Marvel Studios, for breach of contract. The production company released the film on OTT platforms at the same time as its cinema release.

The film still managed to set a box office record during the Covid-19 pandemic, grossing $218m (£157m) in its first weekend. But with the OTT release, the ticket sales fell sharply.

Scarlett Johansson stated that she was promised by Marvel Studios that her film Black Widow would be “theatrical release”. She said she understood that this was not an exclusive term but would mean  a “window” of time to pass before being streamed online.

During the pandemic phase, studios opted for stream only release, however with the restrictions easing up many had adapted to dual release. Black Widow managed to garner at least $60 million in Disney+ Premier Access rentals.

According to Scarlett, her salary was based on box-office performance of the movie, with its release on OTT the cinema sales were depressed which compromised her earnings. 

“Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms Johansson from realising the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel,” read the lawsuit.

However , Disney countered by claiming that the dual release had “significantly enhanced [Johansson’s] ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20m she has received to date”.

In the statement, the company stated that her legal action was “especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Follow us on Instagram for daily news and updates.