Emma Stone Reportedly ‘Weighing Options’ Against Disney Over Cruella

Disney may have another issue on the way, as Emma Stone is rumored to be considering her options regarding Cruella’s Disney+ release in the wake of Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit. As you likely know, Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney over the move of Black Widow to a day-and-date release in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. Johansson’s suit she alleges the move was done in order to allow the studio to profit while denying the actress bonuses that would kick in at certain box office benchmarks.

According to THR alumnus Matt Belloni in his What I’m Hearing newsletter, Stone is considering possibilities regarding how Disney gave Cruella the same treatment that Black Widow did. Cruella has grossed $85.3 million domestically and $225.8 million overseas and is a success with a sequel on the way, but the film’s Disney+ numbers have not been released and Stone may well have had compensation coming if the box office went high enough too.

The report added that Disney is “notoriously difficult to deal with,” specifically regarding when legal matters become public news. The studio has pushed back against Johansson’s lawsuit with an openly hostile statement which read:

“There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date,” a Disney spokesperson said.

Stone has yet to comment on Johansson’s situation or on reports of her considering possible legal options.