TheQuartering [7/30/2021]
Disney is in all kinds of trouble.
Emma Stone is reportedly considering suing Disney over the release of Cruella on Disney+. The villainous origin story premiered simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ on May 28, utilizing the $29.99 Premier Access feature that previous pandemic pictures Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon launched. While the Stone-led flick was considered a success amongst audiences and critics, the box office numbers weren’t terribly impressive. Many speculated that Cruella‘s hybrid release cut into its overall numbers.
Disney’s latest blockbuster to hold a dual debut was the highly-anticipated Black Widow. Though the Marvel flick saw solid opening weekend numbers for pandemic times, Natasha Romanoff herself saw a big loss. Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney, citing that Black Widow‘s Disney+ release was a breach of her contract. Johansson’s salary is contingent on the movie’s box office numbers, which she believed were hindered by the Premier Access model. Now that the powerhouse has spoken out, fellow Disney lead Emma Stone is said to be next.