Disney's ex-CEO Bob Iger is reportedly displeased with his replacement at the company, Bob Chapek, and the Mouse House's response to Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow lawsuit.
A Disney insider told The Wrap that Iger finds the Black Widow situation "mortifying" and feels Chapek and the rest of the company "bungled it." Zenia Mucha, Disney’s chief communications officer, denied the claim in an email to the outlet stating, "None of this is true. Period." The Wrap also noted Mucha was among the executives who backed Disney's response to Johansson's lawsuit, calling it "sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."
On July 29, it was reported Johansson is suing Disney, alleging the company violated her contract with the dual release for Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. The lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court stated Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release for Black Widow, with Johansson's salary based on the film's commercial performance. With the movie's box office diminished due to it also being available for streaming, the star is projected to lose more than $50 million.
"Pretty sure Chapek made the mistake. He didn't think it would blow up in his face. He doesn't deal with talent," an anonymous producer told The Wrap. Chapek and Disney's response to Johansson's lawsuit has also drawn public criticism, with Women In Film, ReFrame and Time's Up slamming the statement as a "gendered character attack" that paints Johansson as being selfish for defending her contractual rights.
"Last time I checked, I was pretty sure that the senior team at Disney wouldn't get a lot of purchase by accusing someone else of being greedy," an executive told The Wrap, calling the statement "ham-handed."
Iger isn't the only executive supposedly upset with the Black Widow lawsuit, either. An earlier report described Marvel Studios President and Marvel Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige as being "angry and ashamed" of the way Disney handled the situation, not least of all because Johansson attempted multiple times to re-negotiate her deal with the company before taking it to court.
If all that wasn't enough, it's reported Cruella's Emma Stone is considering filing a similar complaint against Disney for its release strategy, although she has yet to make an official decision. However, Jungle Cruise star Dwayne Johnson and his production company Seven Bucks Productions are said to have no interest in pursuing legal action of their own.
Source: The Wrap
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