Records Show Disney Made $125 Million in Online Sales from Marvel Studios ‘Black Widow’. As the standoff between Scarlett Johannson and Disney grows more intense with each passing day, a new detail has revealed that Scarlett Johannson was not wrong about Disney undercutting her earnings by releasing Marvel Studios’ Black Widow simultaneously in theaters and online.
Related: Marvel’s ‘Black Widow’ Arrives Early on Digital 8/10 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD 9/14
A new earnings report from Bloomberg has added credibility to Johannson’s claims, sharing that Marvel Studios and Disney earned over $125 million in profits from online sales of the film, including Disney+ Premier Access. Currently, Disney is aiming to compel arbitration in the case, which would force Johannson and her legal team to come to a settlement with Disney behind closed doors in New York rather than a public civil trial in Los Angeles as Scarlett has filed for. Undoubtedly this is to save face for Disney who would have to share details about the movie’s earnings that would put the company in a negative light with the public, given the direct attack on her character and sharing of her earnings in their initial response to the lawsuit in an attempt to quell those in support of the high profile actress.
Related: Disney Calling for Arbitration in Scarlett Johannson ‘Black Widow’ Lawsuit
One of Johannson’s attorneys John Berlinski shared with Variety, “After initially responding to this litigation with a misogynistic attack against Scarlett Johansson, Disney is now, predictably, trying to hide its misconduct in confidential arbitration. Why is Disney so afraid of litigating this case in public? Because it knows that Marvel’s promises to give ‘Black Widow’ a typical theatrical release ‘like its other films’ had everything to do with guaranteeing that Disney wouldn’t cannibalize box office receipts in order to boost Disney Plus subscriptions. Yet that is exactly what happened — and we look forward to presenting the overwhelming evidence that proves it.”
Related: Scarlett Johansson and Husband Colin Jost Announce the Birth of Their First Child Together
Attorney Daniel Petrocelli, a member of Disney’s legal team, is the one who filed the motion on behalf of The Walt Disney Company and in the motion argues that Disney matched the contractual obligations by giving Black Widow a “wide theatrical” release, and nothing in the contract required an exclusive release in theaters.
This is a developing story, so be sure to check back here at Chip and Company for updates and all things Disney and Marvel!
Featured Photo Credit: Marvel Studios
Source: Bloomberg
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