Many renowned actors hesitate to advocate for their rights in fear of jeopardizing future job opportunities. Scarlett Johansson, a prominent figure in the industry, stood her ground and took Disney to court when they released her film, Black Widow, on their streaming platform.
This move breached her contract and potentially reduced her earnings following which she filed a lawsuit against Disney. Despite the lawsuit being resolved within months, Johansson emphasizes the importance of individuals standing up for their rights without concern for potential consequences.
Why did Scarlett Johansson file a lawsuit against Disney?
Scarlett Johansson is a renowned actress, popularly known for playing Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Undeniably, her MCU journey has contributed to the fame she has acquired today. However, this journey wasn’t very easy as the actress has seen a fair share of struggle while being a part of the franchise.
Previously, Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney. The actress was compelled to take the matter to court when Disney released her film Black Widow on its streaming platform, Disney+. Now, here what bothered the actress wasn’t the release of her film on a streaming platform but the fact that it clashed with its theatrical release, which diverted a large portion of the crowd. Since the actress had a profit-sharing agreement connected to the film’s box office performance, her potential earning was reduced.
Johansson argued that the simultaneous release of her film on Disney+ affected the film’s box office revenue which also hampered her estimated earnings. Although, the lawsuit was settled within two months, and the actress got back to work she asserted that it was all the result of her efforts and her fearless attitude that she stood firm to her notions, and fought for it. The actress emphasized the importance of taking a stand for oneself.
Scarlett Johansson reflected on knowing your worth
Scarlett Johansson is undoubtedly a renowned face in Hollywood. Along with fame, comes various challenges a celebrity has to face among which is being cautious before expressing one’s opinion. However, Johansson is not the one who shies away from taking a stand for herself, irrespective of who she is dealing with.
Previously, when she filed a lawsuit against Disney+, she made sure that her action may serve as an example for others, so they don’t fear voicing their opinion before a multinational conglomerate. During a conversation with the Associated Press, the actress said,
“I think it’s important in general to know your own worth and stand up for yourself. And I think in this industry … I’ve been working for such a long time, it’s been almost thirty years, and so I’ve seen that … you know, I think there’s so much that has shifted over those thirty years. In some time before, maybe you would feel, oh, gosh, if I stand up for myself, I might never work again, or I might be, like, blacklisted in some way.
Thankfully, that’s changing in the zeitgeist, and honestly, I think that happening in an industry that’s as huge and universal as the entertainment industry, it’s really important that I lead that charge.”
Johanson made her Marvel debut with the 2010 film Iron Man 2, and she worked with the franchise for more than a decade. Her tenure in the MCU came to an end in 2019 when she last appeared in the film Avengers: Endgame
Source: AP Entertainment
