Scarlett Johansson reflects on Black Widow lawsuit

“You made a scene, didn’t you?” More than a year and a half after settling her much-publicized and precedent-setting lawsuit with Disney over the release of Black Widow, Scarlett Johnansson remembers feeling “sad” over the studio’s reaction.

Back in July 2021, with Black Widow slinging towards release, Scarlett Johansson filed suit against Disney after claiming they breached her contract by offering Black Widow on Disney+ at the same time it was released in theaters, with the actress saying this would greatly impact her salary. While the approach made it more convenient for MCU fans to catch the movie during the pandemic, when going to theaters was a bit of a gamble for many, Johansson clearly had a case, as she ended up winning out later that year.

But there were many sour moments in those months. Upon Scarlett Johansson launching the Black Widow suit, Disney took off the ears and issued a retaliatory statement that read, in part, “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.” Speaking with Variety about her reaction to the House of Mouse’s remarks, Johansson said, “I was sad and disappointed. But mostly sad…It was such a surreal moment because we were all isolated and just sort of emerging a little bit. I was also really heavily pregnant, too, which in a weird way was amazing timing.” Adding some positivity to the saga, she said, “Suddenly, your entire attention is drawn to this miracle of life. So, I had the most wonderful distraction in the world and soon after had a beautiful baby.” Further, she remembered feeling proud in the statement she was making. “I couldn’t even walk through a restaurant without somebody saying, ‘Good for you. Stand up for yourself.’…I could see that it had a bigger impact. I got support from strangers that have no skin in the game at all.”

The Black Widow suit was settled in September 2021, with Scarlett Johansson saying she “[looks] forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come.” Who wouldn’t, with a reported payout from the suit said to be around $40 million? Johansson is apparently following through on her interest in maintaining a partnership with Disney, as it was confirmed just this week that the Tower of Terror movie is officially a go.

What did you think of Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney over the release of Black Widow? Are you surprised she is continuing her relationship with the studio? Give us your thoughts below!