Scarlett Johansson recently sat down with The New York Times and opened up about her tumultuous yet resolved legal skirmish with Disney over the dual release of her Marvel movie, “Black Widow.” During the pandemic in July 2021, Disney opted for a simultaneous release in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access, a move that Johansson argued violated her contract, which stipulated an exclusive theatrical release. The star consequently sued Disney, contending that the streaming release would deprive her of millions in backend compensation.
Johansson reflected on the ordeal, saying she doesn’t hold a grudge but felt disappointed by the situation. “I don’t hold a grudge,” she noted. “It was poor judgment and poor leadership at that time. The entire ordeal felt very unprofessional. I was holding out hope until my team finally said, ‘You have to act.’” Despite the legal drama, Johansson has since moved on and holds no ill will toward Disney.
However, Johansson’s recent clash with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the use of her voice in their ChatGPT system paints a different picture. After OpenAI released a voice eerily similar to Johansson’s, reminiscent of her role in the film “Her,” Johansson reacted with shock and anger. OpenAI has since retracted the voice, stating it was not an imitation but from a different actress. Johansson revealed that Altman had previously approached her to be the voice for ChatGPT 4.0, an offer she declined. Despite this, her voice was used without her consent, leading to her lawyers demanding its removal.
In a candid moment, Johansson humorously suggested that Altman could make an interesting Marvel villain, “maybe with a robotic arm.” As technology continues to evolve, she expressed concerns about AI and deepfakes, calling it a “dark wormhole” that could have severe impacts on individuals’ lives.
Currently, Johansson is busy promoting her romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon,” and is already on set in Thailand for the next “Jurassic World” film.
What are your thoughts on Scarlett Johansson’s recent comments and her futuristic take on Sam Altman as a Marvel villain? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source: [Zack Sharf](https://variety.com/2024/film/news/scarlett-johansson-black-widow-legal-drama-openai-voice-theft-grudge-1236075131/)
