Raging against the machine: Controversial release strategies are leading to conflict between the talent and the studios.
Getty Images. Illustration: Mike Cathro
IT’S A HOLLYWOOD case which, regardless of outcome, is guaranteed to go down in history. In July, Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney for breach of contract over the studio’s decision to release Black Widow on Disney+ and in cinemas concurrently. Johansson claimed in the suit that her agreement guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release for Black Widow and her salary was based, in large part, on the boxoffice takings. Emails included in the lawsuit show her representatives had looked to renegotiate her contract after learning about the hybrid release. Disney, it is claimed, did not respond.