In as many words as possible Disney confronted publicly the controversy with their Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson who sued the studio for cutting her money by making the film available both in theatres and their streamer simultaneously.&nbsp;

At the Goldman Sachs’ 30th annual Communacopia Conference, Disney CEO Bob Chapek was asked about the compensation of Hollywood talent going forward in the wake of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-scarlett-johansson-sues-disney-over-black-widow-streaming-release-401624">Scarlett Johansson controversy.</a> He said, “Disney has had a long history of having very symbiotic and cooperative deals with the talent and we will continue to.”

“Certainly the world is changing, and the talent deals going forward will have to reflect the fact that the world is changing. We’re in a moment of time where films were envisioned under one understanding about what the world would be, because frankly it hadn’t changed much,” he said.

He added, “Remember, those films were made three or four years ago; those deals were cut three or four years ago. Then they get launched in the middle of a global pandemic where that pandemic itself is accelerating a second dynamic, which is this changing consumer behavior. So we’re sort of putting a square peg in a round hole right now where we’ve got a deal conceived under a certain set of conditions, that actually results in a movie that is being released in a completely different set of conditions.”

“So there’s a bit of rest going on right now. Ultimately, we’ll think about that as we do our future talent deals and plan for that and make sure that’s incorporated. But right now we have this sort of middle position, where we’re trying to do right by the talent, I think the talent is trying to do right by us, and we’re just figuring out our way to bridge the gap. Ultimately we believe our talent is our most important asset, and we’ll continue to believe that, and as we always have, we’ll compensate them fairly per the terms of the contract that they agreed to us with,” he continued.

Disney had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-disney-lashes-at-scarlett-johansson-for-suing-it-on-taking-black-widow-film-to-disney-401634">bashed Scarlett Johansson</a> when she sued them for eating up her money and said it was insensitive of the actress to ask for the film to be available only in theatres amid the pandemic when most people are not comfortable walking out of their homes because of the COVID-19 situation.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-scarlett-johansson-has-no-plans-to-return-as-black-widow-397293">Scarlett Johansson has 'no plans' to return as 'Black Widow'</a>

Disney had then said, “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.”&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-scarlett-johansson-vs-disney-women-in-film-reframe-time’s-up-accuse-the-giant-of-‘gendered-character-attack’-401919">Scarlett Johansson VS Disney: Women in Film, ReFrame, Time’s Up accuse the giant of ‘gendered character attack’</a>

In as many words as possible Disney confronted publicly the controversy with their Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson who sued the studio for cutting her money by making the film available both in theatres and their streamer simultaneously.

In as many words as possible Disney confronted publicly the controversy with their Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson who sued the studio for cutting her money by making the film available both in theatres and their streamer simultaneously. At the Goldman Sachs’ 30th annual Communacopia Conference, Disney CEO Bob Chapek was asked about the compensation of Hollywood talent going forward in the wake of Scarlett Johansson controversy. He said, “Disney has had a long history of having very symbiotic and cooperative deals with the talent and we will continue to.” “Certainly the world is changing, and the talent deals going forward will have to reflect the fact that the world is changing. We’re in a moment of time where films were envisioned under one understanding about what the world would be, because frankly it hadn’t changed much,” he said. He added, “Remember, those films were made three or four years ago; those deals were cut three or four years ago. Then they get launched in the middle of a global pandemic where that pandemic itself is accelerating a second dynamic, which is this changing consumer behavior. So we’re sort of putting a square peg in a round hole right now where we’ve got a deal conceived under a certain set of conditions, that actually results in a movie that is being released in a completely different set of conditions.” “So there’s a bit of rest going on right now. Ultimately, we’ll think about that as we do our future talent deals and plan for that and make sure that’s incorporated. But right now we have this sort of middle position, where we’re trying to do right by the talent, I think the talent is trying to do right by us, and we’re just figuring out our way to bridge the gap. Ultimately we believe our talent is our most important asset, and we’ll continue to believe that, and as we always have, we’ll compensate them fairly per the terms of the contract that they agreed to us with,” he continued. Disney had bashed Scarlett Johansson when she sued them for eating up her money and said it was insensitive of the actress to ask for the film to be available only in theatres amid the pandemic when most people are not comfortable walking out of their homes because of the COVID-19 situation. Scarlett Johansson has 'no plans' to return as 'Black Widow' Disney had then said, “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.” Scarlett Johansson VS Disney: Women in Film, ReFrame, Time’s Up accuse the giant of ‘gendered character attack’

Disney CEO weighs in on Scarlett Johansson controversy: Our talent is our most important asset

After ‘Black Widow’ actress Scarlett Johansson sued Disney breaching contract with her as the studio released the Marvel film on Disney+ streamer at the same time of its theatrical release. This thus caused her losses as it siphoned potential theatergoers, costing her potential compensation tied to the movie’s theatrical revenue.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-scarlett-johansson-sues-disney-over-black-widow-streaming-release-401624">lawsuit</a> claims that, by steering audiences to Disney+, the media conglomerate wanted to grow its subscriber base and boost its stock price. Yet that was at the expense of Johansson, whose compensation would “largely be based on box office receipts,” according to the lawsuit, while she “extracted a promise from Marvel that the release” of Black Widow would be a theatrical release.

Responding to the lawsuit, the Walt Disney Co. has fired back at the actress and called the litigation a “callous disregard” to the Covid-19 pandemic and even revealed that she has so far received $20 million from the project.

A Disney spokesperson said, “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.”

Meanwhile, Johansson’s attorney, John Berlinski of Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, said in a statement: “It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price – and that it’s hiding behind Covid-19 as a pretext to do so. But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court. This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and names the Walt Disney Company as the sole defendant.&nbsp;

After ‘Black Widow’ actress Scarlett Johansson sued Disney breaching contract with her as the studio released the Marvel film on Disney+ streamer at the same time of its theatrical release.

After ‘Black Widow’ actress Scarlett Johansson sued Disney breaching contract with her as the studio released the Marvel film on Disney+ streamer at the same time of its theatrical release. This thus caused her losses as it siphoned potential theatergoers, costing her potential compensation tied to the movie’s theatrical revenue. The lawsuit claims that, by steering audiences to Disney+, the media conglomerate wanted to grow its subscriber base and boost its stock price. Yet that was at the expense of Johansson, whose compensation would “largely be based on box office receipts,” according to the lawsuit, while she “extracted a promise from Marvel that the release” of Black Widow would be a theatrical release. Responding to the lawsuit, the Walt Disney Co. has fired back at the actress and called the litigation a “callous disregard” to the Covid-19 pandemic and even revealed that she has so far received $20 million from the project. A Disney spokesperson said, “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.” Meanwhile, Johansson’s attorney, John Berlinski of Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, said in a statement: “It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price – and that it’s hiding behind Covid-19 as a pretext to do so. But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court. This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts.” The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and names the Walt Disney Company as the sole defendant.

Disney lashes at Scarlett Johansson for suing it on taking 'Black Widow' to streamer

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over its decision to release superhero movie "Black Widow" on streaming at the same time as in theaters, alleging a breach of contract which cost the star millions of dollars.

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 a lawsuit filed Thursday at Los Angeles Superior Court.

The film 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 this month simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+.

Box office analysts have cited the film's streaming debut as a major factor in a lackluster -- by Marvel film standards -- release for a film that has grossed just over $150 million in domestic theaters in three weeks.

"It's no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company's stock price -- and that it's hiding behind Covid-19 as a pretext to do so," said Johansson's attorney John Berlinski in a statement to AFP.

"This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts," he added.

A spokesperson for Disney -- which owns superhero movie powerhouse Marvel Studios -- dismissed the lawsuit, telling AFP in a statement that Disney had not breached any contract and that "there is no merit whatsoever to this filing."

"The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic," it said.

- 'Keep the revenues' -

Like many Hollywood studios, Disney is increasingly prioritizing streaming as a source of future revenue -- a process accelerated by the closure of movie theaters upon the arrival of the pandemic in spring 2020.

Following the film's opening weekend, Disney issued a press release claiming "Black Widow" had earned "over $60M" on Disney+ alone, where it was available to subscribers at an additional $30 cost.

Johansson's lawsuit says that to "protect her financial interests, Ms. Johansson extracted a promise from Marvel that the release of the Picture would be a 'theatrical release,'" which she understood to mean it would not appear on streaming until a traditional "window" of time had elapsed.

But "Disney wanted to lure the Picture's audience away from movie theatres and towards its owned streaming service, where it could keep the revenues for itself while simultaneously growing the Disney+ subscriber base, a proven way to boost Disney's stock price," it alleges.

"Disney wanted to substantially devalue Ms. Johansson's agreement and thereby enrich itself," it adds.

The Disney spokesperson said the company "has fully complied with Ms. Johansson's contract" and that the Disney+ streaming release "has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date."

The issue of compensation linked to box office receipts is a growing concern in streaming-focused Hollywood, where such deals for top A-listers are common.

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.

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over its decision to release superhero movie "Black Widow" on streaming at the same time as in theaters, alleging a breach of contract which cost the star millions of dollars.

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over its decision to release superhero movie "Black Widow" on streaming at the same time as in theaters, alleging a breach of contract which cost the star millions of dollars. 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 a lawsuit filed Thursday at Los Angeles Superior Court. The film 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 this month simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+. Box office analysts have cited the film's streaming debut as a major factor in a lackluster -- by Marvel film standards -- release for a film that has grossed just over $150 million in domestic theaters in three weeks. "It's no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company's stock price -- and that it's hiding behind Covid-19 as a pretext to do so," said Johansson's attorney John Berlinski in a statement to AFP. "This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts," he added. A spokesperson for Disney -- which owns superhero movie powerhouse Marvel Studios -- dismissed the lawsuit, telling AFP in a statement that Disney had not breached any contract and that "there is no merit whatsoever to this filing." "The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic," it said. - 'Keep the revenues' - Like many Hollywood studios, Disney is increasingly prioritizing streaming as a source of future revenue -- a process accelerated by the closure of movie theaters upon the arrival of the pandemic in spring 2020. Following the film's opening weekend, Disney issued a press release claiming "Black Widow" had earned "over $60M" on Disney+ alone, where it was available to subscribers at an additional $30 cost. Johansson's lawsuit says that to "protect her financial interests, Ms. Johansson extracted a promise from Marvel that the release of the Picture would be a 'theatrical release,'" which she understood to mean it would not appear on streaming until a traditional "window" of time had elapsed. But "Disney wanted to lure the Picture's audience away from movie theatres and towards its owned streaming service, where it could keep the revenues for itself while simultaneously growing the Disney+ subscriber base, a proven way to boost Disney's stock price," it alleges. "Disney wanted to substantially devalue Ms. Johansson's agreement and thereby enrich itself," it adds. The Disney spokesperson said the company "has fully complied with Ms. Johansson's contract" and that the Disney+ streaming release "has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date." The issue of compensation linked to box office receipts is a growing concern in streaming-focused Hollywood, where such deals for top A-listers are common. 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.

Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over 'Black Widow' streaming release

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Disney CEO weighs in on Scarlett Johansson controversy: Our talent is our most important asset

Disney lashes at Scarlett Johansson for suing it on taking 'Black Widow' to streamer

Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over 'Black Widow' streaming release