Disney Accuses Scarlett Johansson Of “Gamesmanship” As Actress Blasts “Mysogynistic” Studio Over ‘Black Widow’ Suit

Last night the Walt Disney Company expressed its disappointment in actress Scarlett Johansson for making her financial dispute with them over Black Widow public. The parent company of Marvel Studios is demanding that the lawsuit be moved behind closed doors on the East Coast straight away.

“Periwinkle agreed that all claims ‘arising out of, in connection with, or relating to’ Scarlett Johansson’s acting services for ‘Black Widow’ would be submitted to confidential, binding arbitration in New York,” says the motion filed in LA Superior Court on Friday by Disney’s hired lawyers (which you can read here) according to Deadline.

“Whether Periwinkle’s claims against Disney fall within the scope of that agreement is not a close call: Periwinkle’s interference and inducement claims are premised on Periwinkle’s allegation that Marvel breached the contract’s requirement that any release of Black Widow include a ‘wide theatrical release’ on ‘no less than 1,500 screens,” the motion states, clearly calling out Johansson for initiating the July 29 suit. “The plain and expansive language of the arbitration agreement easily encompasses Periwinkle’s Complaint.”

The motion then takes a more abrasive approach. “In a futile effort to evade this unavoidable result (and generate publicity through a public filing), Periwinkle excluded Marvel as a party to this lawsuit––substituting instead its parent company Disney under contract-interference theories,” state the attorneys. “But longstanding principles do not permit such gamesmanship.”

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Johansson was as quick and sharp to respond to these allegations as her spy character Natasha Romanoff might be.

“After initially responding to this litigation with a misogynistic attack against Scarlett Johansson, Disney is now, predictably, trying to hide its misconduct in a confidential arbitration,” said Johansson’s primary attorney John Berlinski today in response to Disney’s motion going public.

“Why is Disney so afraid of litigating this case in public?,” added the attorney, questioning the company’s motives.

“Because it knows that Marvel’s promises to give Black Widow a typical theatrical release ‘like its other films’ had everything to do with guaranteeing that Disney wouldn’t cannibalize box office receipts in order to boost Disney+ subscriptions,” Berlinski adds, as Disney insists they are abiding by Marvel’s contract with Johansson. “Yet that is exactly what happened – and we look forward to presenting the overwhelming evidence that proves it.”

The suit was initially filed since although Johansson was paid $20 million upfront for Black Widow, the actress has claimed that she was promised “a release that is exclusive to movie theatres.” Disney has denied that to be the case.

“Although Marvel and Disney share Periwinkle’s frustration with the challenges associated with releasing films during an ever-shifting public-health crisis, Periwinkle’s claims that Marvel breached the Agreement and Disney induced that breach or otherwise interfered with the Agreement have no merit,” states last night’s motion. “There is nothing in the Agreement requiring that a ‘wide theatrical release’ also be an ‘exclusive’ theatrical release.”

“The contract does not mandate theatrical distribution––let alone require that any such distribution be exclusive,” it proceeds to divulge. “Moreover, the contract expressly provides that any theatrical-distribution obligations are satisfied by distribution on “no less than 1500 screens.” And even though Black Widow’s release coincided with a global public-health crisis, Marvel made good on its promises.”

There is no word as to how Periwinkle and its attorneys will choose to proceed in its Black Widow suit against Disney at this time.

Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor

Stream Black Widow on Disney+ Premier Access