AFP
Los Angeles (AFP) – Actress Scarlett Johansson and Disney announced Thursday they reached a settlement in her lawsuit over her compensation for “Black Widow,” which she said was slashed when the studio released the movie on streaming at the same time as in theaters.
Johansson, one of Hollywood’s biggest and top-paid stars, was entitled to a percentage of box office receipts from the much-anticipated Marvel film, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles in July.
The superhero saga was originally due for a big-screen release last year, but was delayed multiple times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was eventually released in July — simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+.
Johansson argued that the strategy constituted a breach of contract, costing her millions of dollars.
Disney countered that her complaint was without merit and derided her “callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
But on Thursday, the two sides said they had settled their differences. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney,” Johansson, 36, said in a statement sent to AFP.
“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.”
Alan Bergman, the chairman of Disney Studios Content, said he was “pleased” with the “mutual agreement,” and added that the company looked forward to working with Johansson on “a number of upcoming projects.”
Entertainment news outlet Deadline put the settlement’s value at “more than $40 million,” citing unnamed sources.
Rival studio Warner Bros was slammed last year for a similar decision to release all of its 2021 movies simultaneously in theaters and on its HBO Max platform.
Warner renegotiated many of its deals with stars and filmmakers, reportedly paying out $200 million to compensate for the loss of box office earnings.
LINK LOVE
 |  |  |
| Ryan Murphy is mad that everyone hates his version of JFK Jr & Carolyn Bessette (Celebitchy) | The maddening twist ending to ‘We Were Liars’ explained (Pajiba) | Now Brad Pitt Is wearing a jumpsuit (Go Fug Yourself) |
 |  |  |
| A newly-out Anna Camp and her girlfriend Jade Whipkey make their red carpet (OMG Blog) | The frisky guys of Too Hot to Handle: Spain, handle it themselves (Boy Culture) | Zane Carter in Burberry trunks (Kenneth in the 212) |
HOT DEALS
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation featuring a totally transformed audio experience with Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode, and an updated fit for all-day comfort. [Walmart]
New Balance Gender Inclusive Made in USA 990v6 Sneaker
A best-selling runner keeps up the pace as a crossover street sneaker sporting the performance cushioning and streamlined profile that have maintained its status as an all-time winner. [Nordstrom Rack]
Like most websites, Socialite Life uses affiliate links where available, which means we earn a little commission if you click through and buy something. Also, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases. Savings shown are those from the date and time of this article’s publication.
