Marvel’s Kevin Feige Reportedly ‘Angry’ About ‘Black Widow’ Suit

So it doesn’t seem to be Black Widow 2 goes to occur anytime quickly…

Or not less than it’s not going to star Scarlett Johansson. She’s suing Disney, claiming they breached her contract by releasing Black Widow on Disney+ on the identical time it was opening in theaters, allegedly costing her tens of tens of millions of {dollars} that she would have been owed if the movie had carried out higher on the large display. (To date Black Widow has grossed about $320 million worldwide, on the very low finish of what Marvel motion pictures sometimes earn.) Disney’s response didn’t counsel they’re wanting to settle; they stated Johansson confirmed “callous disregard for the extended world results of the COVID-19 pandemic” and claimed they “absolutely complied” together with her contract.

However that’s Disney — what’s Marvel’s place on all of this? Based on former Hollywood Reporter editor Matt Belloni’s newsletter, the rift between Johansson and Disney has made Marvel President Kevin Feige “indignant and embarrassed.” Belloni provides:

Make no mistake, Feige is pissed. He’s an organization man, and never vulnerable to company showdowns or shouting matches. However … he lobbied Disney towards the day-and-date plan for Black Widow, preferring the large display exclusivity and never desirous to upset his expertise. After which when the s— hit the fan, the film began tanking, and Johansson’s crew threatened litigation, he needed Disney to make this proper together with her.

Belloni says he “received’t counsel Feige would go away Marvel over this,” however he additionally makes it clear that Feige is much extra essential to Marvel and Disney’s future than Johansson, whose contract with Marvel was concluded with Black Widow. In different phrases, they could combat Scarlett Johansson in courtroom, however they should maintain Feige pleased. Disney can at all times rent new actors or give attention to different Marvel characters. Producers with Kevin Feige’s observe report are quite a bit more durable to come back by.