Disney CEO Bob Chapek Defends Media Giant's Release Strategy Amid Scarlet Johansson Lawsuit

Disney CEO Bob Chapek has shown support for the company's movie distribution model amid the lawsuit Scarlett Johansson filed against the media giant.

Chapek spoke with investors and analysts during an earnings call, during which he continuously emphasized the flexibility of the company's controversial release strategy, reported Deadline.

With this approach, Disney+ Premier Access subscribers can start streaming some movies on the same date as their theatrical release.

"We value flexibility in being able to make last-minute calls," Chapek said as per Deadline.

Although he did not explicitly mention Johansson or "Black Widow," he added, "Certainly when we planned we didn't anticipate the resurgence of COVID."

Moreover, Chapek explained he and former CEO Bob Iger, who now serves as chairman of the board at Disney, had determined the dual release plan for several of this year's movies, justifying that it was "the right strategy to enable us to reach the broadest possible audience," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He also reiterated that decisions concerning distribution are made on a "film-by-film basis," adding that they would "utilize all options going forward."

Later on, Chapek went on to reveal that Disney has "entered into hundreds of talent arrangements" that have "by and large gone very smoothly."

"Just like what we've done many times before, we've found ways to fairly compensate our talent so that, no matter what, everyone feels satisfied," he concluded.

Chapek's statements came two weeks after Johansson filed a lawsuit against the production house, alleging it had breached her contract by releasing "Black Widow" on Disney+ and in theaters at the same time, therefore, affecting her expected earnings.

In a statement released to Entertainment Tonight, the 36-year-old actress' attorney, John Berlinski, said, "It's no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company's stock price -- and that it's hiding behind COVID-19 as a pretext to do so."

"But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court," the statement continued. "This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts."