Scarlett Johansson attends the 2020 Vainness Truthful Oscar Occasion at Wallis Annenberg Heart for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020 in Beve
Scarlett Johansson attends the 2020 Vainness Truthful Oscar Occasion at Wallis Annenberg Heart for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California.
David Crotty | Patrick McMullan | Getty Photos
“Black Widow” star Scarlett Johansson’s powerhouse agent on Friday slammed Walt Disney for accusing the actor of “callous disregard” for the risks of Covid-19 to the moviegoing public.
Bryan Lourd, who’s co-chair of expertise company large CAA, additionally urged Disney was not taking part in truthful by publicly revealing Johansson’s $20 million wage for the Marvel Leisure film. That determine had not beforehand been shared publicly.
Lourd stated Disney’s response to Johansson’s lawsuit was “an try and make her look like somebody they and I do know she is not.”
Disney’s remark got here hours after the “Black Widow” star filed a lawsuit towards the corporate Thursday, claiming it had breached her contract when it launched the movie on its streaming service Disney+ on the identical time it debuted in theaters.
“There is no such thing as a benefit in any respect to this submitting,” Disney stated. “The lawsuit is particularly unhappy and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and extended world results of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Johansson, like many Marvel veterans together with Robert Downey Jr., negotiated to have a share of box-office receipts tacked on to her wage. This has grow to be more and more frequent with Marvel Cinematic Universe movies due to their theatrical observe report.
The Academy Award-nominated actress has starred as Natasha Romanoff in eight Marvel movies, which have collectively grossed greater than $10.5 billion in world box-office receipts within the final decade.
Solely eight of Marvel’s 24 theatrical releases have grossed lower than $700 million globally. And solely three have secured lower than $400 million. On common, these franchise movies garner almost $1 billion globally over the course of their theatrical runs.
Thus far, “Black Widow” has tallied $150 million throughout its first three weeks in theaters and slightly greater than $300 million globally. Its $80 million home opening weekend stays the best opening determine of any movie launched after March 2020, when many Covid pandemic restrictions hit.
The streaming launch of the movie ate into box-office earnings, although Disney reported “Black Widow” scored $60 million from gross sales on Disney+ throughout its opening weekend. The corporate has not shared extra details about the movie’s digital efficiency. Leisure consultants have additionally blamed rampant piracy of the movie for its regular drop in efficiency for the reason that launch.
Whereas Disney’s determination to place “Black Widow” on Disney+ and in theaters on the identical day and date was a strategic transfer based mostly on pandemic pressures, it’s projected to have price Johansson greater than $50 million, The Wall Road Journal reported Thursday.
Johansson’s lawsuit claims the actress tried to renegotiate with Disney after she found the movie wouldn’t be launched solely in theaters, however the studio didn’t reply.
Representatives from Disney didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for remark.