Disney CEO Bob Chapek defended the distribution strategy behind “Black Widow” that led to a lawsuit filed by star Scarlett Johansson last month.
”Both Bob Iger and I, along with the distribution team, decided this was the best strategy because it enabled us to reach the broadest audience,” Chapek said on Disney’s earnings call on Thursday.
He added: “Distribution decisions are made on a film-by-film basis, based on market conditions and consumer behavior.”
His response sidestepped the issue that Johansson raised in her lawsuit — which was not about the studio’s decision to release the Marvel film simultaneously in theaters and as a premium streaming release on Disney+ but about how that decision impacted the compensation plan under her contract.