Benedict Cumberbatch weighs in on the Scarlett Johansson vs. Disney lawsuit

Yet another Marvel star is sharing their thoughts about Scarlett Johansson’s legal battle against Disney; the latest to speak out is Doctor Strange himself, Benedict Cumberbatch.

Cumberbatch is the center of a large featureThe Hollywood Reporter released just today, and the actor was quite candid. As a refresher, Johansson is suing Disney for breach of contract, under which she is entitled to a share of the box office for Black Widow. Johansson is arguing that Disney’s decision  to release the movie in both theaters and on Disney+ cost her as much as $50 million.

As someone currently employed by Disney and Marvel, Cumberbatch doesn’t declare his support for Johansson or Disney specifically. But he does a pretty good job of contextualizing what this all means in the broader scope of the streaming era. “It’s sad what’s going on between the lawyers,” he said. “Just the verbiage and the accusations of, ‘Put it in a global pandemic context.’ The whole thing’s just a bit of a mess. We’re trying to understand what the revenue streams should be for artists that contribute to the billion-dollar business that is Disney. And it has to be contractualized. How does an artist’s normal compensation with box office bonuses, how does it work?”

"It’s a new paradigm, and it’s a very complex one. No one saw this coming, and no one should use hindsight to say, “Well, it should have been done.” That was the first of these films that was going to get a cinematic release during the pandemic and got stalled and stalled and stalled. It’s very new territory."

More support for Scarlett Johansson?

Cumberbatch doesn’t necessarily say it outright, but as you begin to read his statement, there is a bit of a sly pushback against Disney. The “put it in a global pandemic context” part seems like he’s alluding to Disney’s response to Johansson’s lawsuit, which they called “sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Pandemic or not, the Doctor Strange actor has a point. We’re in a time where box office revenue isn’t the only way a movie’s going to make money. And if a film is going to be released on a streaming service as well, then they have to factor in how that will affect the actors’ compensation for the film.

Previously, Scarlet Witch actress Elizabeth Olsen shared her support for her Avengers co-star. And Marvel boss Kevin Feige is said to be unhappy with how Disney has handled the situation.

This is definitely starting to feel like a big landmark case in entertainment history. And the implications of this will not only affect Disney, but every other movie studio and streaming service as well.

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