Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney has continued to make some major waves in the film industry, leading everyone to wonder what will happen with hybrid releases going forward, as well as with Marvel.

Even though the lawsuit is still ongoing, it could completely change how actors, film studios, and more work together to bring entertainment to life on the big screen.

But, before we dive into all that, let’s have a quick recap of what is going on with the Black Widow lawsuit. Johansson’s legal team sued Disney over a contract breach regarding how the long-awaited Marvel film was released. They stated that they were told Black Widow would receive a traditional big-screen release before shifting over to a debut on Disney+.

In discussions with the Disney Company, Johansson’s team was told by Dave Galluzzi, Marvel’s chief counsel, that “it is 100% our plan to do a typical wide release of Black Widow.” If there were changes, the company “would need to discuss this with [Johansson] and come to an understanding as the deal is based on a series of (very large) box office bonuses,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

So, why are the bonuses important in this situation? Well, Johansson received $20 million, where her earnings would grow if the film reached certain box-office milestones. Normally, an exclusive theatrical release for Marvel would be high-grossing, meaning that the potential for bonuses would be significant for Black Widow. However, when Disney decided to release the film in theaters and on Disney+ the same day, it caused the film to be one of the lowest earning Marvel films at only $371 million grossed world-wide.

In perspective, Spider-Man: Far from Home (which was Marvel’s last film released prior to Black Widow) earned over $1 billion worldwide. And, Marvel’s highest profiting film — Avengers: Endgame — earned $2.7902 billion worldwide. Due to the past popularity and disappointing earnings from the film, Johansson’s team believes that the dual release of Black Widow cost her up to $50 million in bonuses. Disney has hit back, denying these allegations and attempting to bring the lawsuit to private arbitration.

While there hasn’t been a resolution yet, the lawsuit could drastically change the film industry. Studios have paid actors a base salary, but bigger stars have regularly received bonuses in regards to box office success or even a cut of licensing fees. Yet, these were strictly for theatrical releases, making many people in the film industry wonder how streaming services will affect their earnings. Moving forward, there may need to be certain milestones for streaming releases, much like theatrical releases.

Since the lawsuit, there has been a scramble to satisfy actors who have expressed concern over the situation. Emma Stone, who starred in Cruella, received additional compensation after the film’s dual release in wake of the Black Widow lawsuit. AT&T Inc.’s WarnerMedia also paid more than $200 million to associated stars, directors, and other film professionals after many dual releases in theaters and on HBO Max, according to the Wall Street Journal.

However, there are still rumbles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in regards to the bonus and payout situation. IGN has shared that now even the Russo Brothers, who famously directed Avengers: Endgame, have also “hit an impasse” in negotiations with Marvel. This could mean that they may not return to direct another film, due to the concern of film’s release and the payments they would receive.

So much is currently up in the air right now in regards to what could occur in Hollywood, but what we do know is that the film industry could see some big changes. Of course, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on everything you need to know! Be sure to stay tuned with AllEars for the latest Disney entertainment and news!

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Did you see Black Widow in theaters or on Disney+? Let us know in the comments below!