[General Maximus]

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney - accusing the company of breaching her contract when it offered the film Black Widow on its streaming service at the same time as it was released in theatres.

The actress's earnings are based partly on the Marvel film's box office takings and, in court papers, she said the movie was intended for initial release exclusively in cinemas.

Instead, the dual release had resulted in her earning less than she would have otherwise, she argued.

So when Black Widow debuted on 9 July in theatres, the company had also released it on streaming for a $30 (£19 in the UK) charge.

The lawsuit alleged that Disney wanted to "keep the revenues for itself while simultaneously growing the Disney+ subscriber base, a proven way to boost Disney's stock price".

"Second, Disney wanted to substantially devalue Ms Johansson's agreement and thereby enrich itself."

The suit seeks unspecified damages to be determined at trial.

Disney said there was "no merit" in the claims, insisting that it complied with Johansson's contract.

https://news.sky.com/story/scarlett-...nemas-12367590