I took a look and do not see anything saying that Disney has claimed ScarJo’s contract included the streaming. Is there a link?
As to the suits, if the contract or a rider or amendment said theatrical then Disney does not have a leg to stand on legally. If they try to argue that pandemic lets them disregard terms of contracts that won’t fly. It also doesn’t help their case that other studios using this approach DID amend their contracts with cast and production companies to address streaming revenue. Examples include Warner Bros paying Legendary Films extra (on Godzilla v Kong) and also Gal Gadot being paid extra - both because of dual release.
On one level this is popcorn stuff in that we have rich people suing rich people for more money. On another level this is two of the few actors left whose name on a film can generate ticket sales (bankable) and Disney has an extremely bad reputation for playing payment games with authors, actors, producers and other sources for what they show.
Yes, here is the extract from the link below:
Disney said there was "no merit" to the lawsuit, saying it had complied with her contract. It added in a statement that the release of the movie on its streaming platform had "significantly enhanced her (Johansson's) ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20 million she has received to date.”
Scarlett Johansson, star of the Marvel superhero movie "Black Widow," sued the Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) on Thursday, alleging that the company breached her contract when it offered the movie on streaming at the same time it played in theaters.
www.reuters.com
I agree that Disney is greedy, they are a corporation and that is the nature of corporations. Another thing about corporation as large as Disney is that sustain ten of thousands of jobs. Some of these jobs can be lost if these corporations lose revenue.
Another thing I don't like is the Hollywood Elite thinking they can dictate they way the public gets to watch movies because of their selfish greed of their own. I am really sick of them thinking they are above everyone else.
What would have happened if a giant snowstorm hit most of US on her opening weekend? She would have lost a ton, and not had a way to cry about it. The lawyers can argue the same thing, worldwide disaster has created an environment where there is need to allow the public to watch at home as well, She is dreaming by the way if she thinks a full movie theatre release would have filled the seats for 50M more dollars or made her the amount of coin like a Guardian of the Galaxy or Avengers movie. Black Widow is not exactly the most interesting of the bunch. I saw the movie, it was not that good, it was okay, and not worth a second watch at this time. Also, I would not go to a theatre packed with idiots breaking rules without masks just to see it.
I really hope Disney wins, if not the stars will just find a way to cry for more money. I also think that greylisted or not, I will not pay a single cent to ever watch any movie that she is in again, unless Marvel finds a way to bring back Black Widow in an Avengers movie, but somehow I think that possibility just got much less likely. As I said before, there will be plenty of other stars willing to suffer through the pittance of the hybrid movie world we live in. I am tired of Hollywood stars thinking they should have a right to influence the greater USA, and world because of their fame. I don't care what they think about politics or what they think about movies moving to streaming/hybrid release.
They are employees and get paid quite well to do their jobs, I wish they would just shut up and act.
If Disney had signed a contract/email that stated "exclusively theatrical" then she might have a decent case, but even that will be in trouble if there is small print in the contract about exceptions to the claim, and anyone who has every signed a contract knows there are entire appendixes on the exception clauses in most contracts.