![Colin McRaven ('24) prepares to pitch the ball to an Anclote batter during the Varsity pre-season game."I like striking people out, since it's fun. The game against Anclote was pretty easy because they were less talented than our team and [I think] we were better than them in every aspect," Colin McRaven ('24) said.](https://jwmhshoofbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1538-1200x928.jpg)
Drama in the theater
Scarlett Johansson, star of the new Marvel movie “Black Widow,” filed a lawsuit against Disney after the release of the movie on Disney +. Marvel fans around school voice their opinions on the lawsuit.
August 30, 2021
Actress Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney, due to a breach of contract with the new Marvel movie “Black Widow”.
Originally “Black Widow” was supposed to be released in May 2020, only in theaters. On Jul. 9, the film was released in theaters and on Disney +, causing a lawsuit to be filed due to a breach in Johansson’s contract. After the film’s being delay because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney decided to release it on Disney + as well as in theaters. Estimated Johansson lost about $50 million. Avid Marvel fan, Addison Kingsley (‘23), believes Johansson is doing the right thing.
“She has a pretty valid reason for doing that. She lost a lot of money and I think that if anyone else did it, people wouldn’t be as mad but since it was a woman who did it people are criticizing her a lot more than her male costars,” Kingsley said.
According to CNN, the film has made $80 million in North America in theaters and $60 million globally on Disney +. Johansson’s Salary was based largely on the film’s box office success. Disney allegedly promised a theatrical release, meaning the film would only be released in theaters. Jayana Vazquez (‘23) feels the lawsuit is upsetting.
“I don’t agree with that. If you’re going to be in the contract and it’s in the contract. it’s a legal document and then being told it’s going to be on Disney + and you don’t get that money. All that is kind of upsetting because it was a big movie, too,” Vazquez said.
According to USA Today, Disney said the lawsuit was sad and distressing because of the pandemic. Johansson’s agent said this was an attack on her character and that the company was shamelessly and falsely accusing Johansson of being insensitive to the pandemic. Jacob Allen (‘25) believes the situation wouldn’t have happened if Disney added Disney + into the contract.
“They could have made it more obvious like in the contract where they were going to put the movie,” Allen said.
Disney has now filed a motion to settle the lawsuit behind closed doors. The motion was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, Aug. 20 and the first court hearing is on Oct. 15.
