Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney for Breach of Contract

Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney for Breach of Contract

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the company’s decision to make the ‘Black Widow’ available for streaming on Disney+ the same day the movie was released in theaters. The actress is claiming that Disney breached their contract with her by not making the movie exclusive to theaters.

In a lawsuit filed earlier today, Johansson is claiming that box office sales were depressed by the concurrent release of the movie in theaters and on Disney+. Since her compensation is tied to box office performance — bonuses kick when sales hit certain milestones — her lawyers are arguing that “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.”

It’s not clear how much Johansson is seeking in damages, but Disney’s decision to release the movie in theaters and on Disney+ concurrently cost her $50 million in bonuses.