Scarlett Johansson and Disney settle poisonous lawsuit over ‘Black Widow’ pay

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Longtime Marvel star Scarlett Johansson and Walt Disney Studios have settled their explosive lawsuit over the star's payout for "Black Widow."

A statement from Walt Disney Studios confirmed that the legal dispute with Johansson's Periwinkle Entertainment – which boiled over when the movie was released in theaters and on Disney+ streaming service at the same time – had been resolved.

“I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney,” Johansson said in the statement. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come.”

Details of the settlement were not disclosed.

Disney Studios chairman Alan Bergman added in the statement: “I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson regarding 'Black Widow.' We appreciate her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s 'Tower of Terror.' ”

Scarlett Johansson lawusit: Agent calls Disney response to 'Black Widow' suit 'a direct attack on her character'

Scarlett Johansson and Disney have settled their "Black Widow" lawsuit.
Scarlett Johansson and Disney have settled their "Black Widow" lawsuit.

Johansson filed the lawsuit against the movie studio in Los Angeles Superior Court in July. In documents obtained by USA TODAY, the suit alleged that her contract was breached by the film's simultaneous release.

In the lawsuit, Johansson said her agreement with Marvel Studios guaranteed an exclusive release in movie theaters and her salary was based in large part on box-office performance.

Disney's response escalated the war of their words. A statement said there was "no merit whatsoever" to the filing and called the suit "especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Bryan Lourd, co-chairman of the Creative Artists Agency and Johansson’s agent, issued a response, saying Disney "shamelessly and falsely accused Ms. Johansson of being insensitive to the global COVID pandemic, in an attempt to make her appear to be someone they and I know she isn’t." He also called it "a direct attack on her character" that's "beneath the company that many of us in the creative community have worked with successfully for decades."

In August, Disney filed a motion to settle the lawsuit behind closed doors. Papers for the request for binding arbitration maintained the complaint put forth by Johansson and Periwinkle Entertainment has "no merit."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scarlett Johansson, Disney resolve 'Black Widow' pay dispute