After being long overdue for a solo movie, Scarlett Johansson finally got her chance to shine in her own film starring as the former Russian assassin turned Avenger in Black Widow. The actor couldn't catch a break, though, as the film's original release was delayed from 2020 to just a few weeks ago thanks to the effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adding to that, the film was not released exclusively in theaters like other MCU films. Instead, Disney opted for a last-minute hybrid release model, dropping the film on both Disney+ and theaters on the same day. First, the movie was doing great, showing some good numbers at both the box office and for Disney+. The following weeks weren't as fruitful with a dramatic dip that marked the worst in the MCU's history.
Then, Johansson shook the world when the news dropped that she was taking legal action against Disney, alleging that they broke her contract in dropping Black Widow on Disney+ alongside its theatrical release. This case is a big deal, as it could set a precedent for decades to come in how studios handle movie releases in relation to theaters and streaming services.
Now, one of Johansson's MCU co-stars has weighed in on the matter, and their response isn't quite what one would expect.
DRAX WEIGHS IN ON BLACK WIDOW CONTROVERSY
The news of Scarlett Johansson's battle with Disney is everywhere, and now, the actor who plays Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Dave Bautista, has officially commented on the matter.
In a Tweet responding to the Black Widow litigation news, Bautista wrote that Disney should have made a Drax-centered movie:
"Told em they should've made a #Drax movie but noooooo!"
WHAT EXACTLY IS BAUTISTA SAYING?
It isn't clear as to what Dave Bautista is trying to say or allude to here. It almost seemed like a no-effort response to something the actor didn't fully engage with before weighing in. There is always the chance that he is eluding that if the studio had opted to make a Drax solo film instead, then they wouldn't be dealing with legal action right now.
Either way, his response doesn't give off the best of impressions. Bautista has been quite vocal recently about having wanted a Drax solo film for a while and how he feels that Marvel Studios dropped the ball on its adaption of Drax the Destroyer—a moniker he specifically points out to be all but meaningless for the Drax the world has come to know.
The entire Johansson situation certainly isn't a good appearance for Marvel Studios or Disney. In fact, there are already whispers that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is both angry and embarrassed about the situation as a whole. It'll be interesting to see how everything's resolved and what the outcome will mean for streaming theatrical releases in the future.
One thing's for sure: Bautista's response certainly isn't going to get him anywhere closer to that solo movie he seems to want so badly.
