“You USED Us!” Avengers Cast Unleashes Fury on Disney’s CEO — What’s Really Going On?

Scarlett Johansson recently voiced what many Marvel fans suspected but few dared to say openly: she felt used by Disney.

Her lawsuit against the company over the release strategy of Black Widow exposed a raw wound in the relationship between talent and the corporate giant.

Johansson’s fight for fair compensation highlighted a broader pattern of Disney’s treatment of its stars.

Chris Hemsworth, another cornerstone of the MCU, backed her up, sharing his own frustrations about feeling creatively stifled and undervalued, particularly after becoming tired of the repetitive, joke-heavy direction of Thor: Love and Thunder.

Hemsworth’s candid admission that he felt like a caricature rather than a fully realized character reflects a deeper dissatisfaction with Disney’s approach.

Instead of nurturing his desire to explore more dramatic, nuanced roles, Disney kept pushing formulaic blockbusters that left even their leading man bored.

The fact that Hemsworth’s young son’s friends critiqued the film’s excessive humor and lackluster effects underscores just how disconnected the studio’s product had become from its audience.

This dissatisfaction extends beyond creative concerns into contract negotiations that reveal a corporate culture prioritizing profits over people.

The 2013 Avengers: Age of Ultron pay talks are a prime example.

Despite the first Avengers film grossing $1.5 billion globally, Disney’s leadership, including CEO Bob Iger at the time, distanced themselves from negotiations, leaving frugal executives like Isaac Perlmutter to handle talks.

Agents described a toxic environment where actors were made to feel greedy for simply requesting fair pay.

Marvel even claimed the film only broke even at $1.1 billion—a figure widely questioned as studio accounting manipulation designed to justify low salaries.

The fallout from these tactics was painfully visible in Johansson’s lawsuit.

When she challenged Disney over the simultaneous theatrical and streaming release of Black Widow, which cost her tens of millions in box office bonuses, Disney’s response was not conciliatory.

Instead, they publicly disclosed her $20 million salary in an apparent attempt to shame her for seeking what she was contractually owed.

This move backfired spectacularly, drawing condemnation from advocacy groups and industry insiders who saw it as a gendered attack on Johansson’s character.

This pattern of exploitation is not limited to marquee stars.

Jeremy Renner’s recent revelation that Disney offered him half his previous salary for a potential second season of Hawkeye shocked fans and industry watchers alike.

Coming after Renner’s miraculous recovery from a near-fatal accident, the offer felt especially callous.

Renner himself speculated that the pay cut might be tied to perceptions about his physical condition post-accident, a notion that underscores a troubling lack of empathy from Disney’s financial decision-makers.

Renner’s frustration was compounded by his distinction between Marvel Studios and Disney’s corporate accountants, whom he blamed for the low offer.

This points to a disconnect between the creative teams who value their talent and the corporate side focused on cost-cutting.

Renner’s outright rejection of the offer and public criticism of Disney’s “penny pinchers” highlight a growing rift between talent and the corporate empire that profits from their work.

The consequences of Disney’s approach extend beyond individual actors.

Visual effects artists, often overlooked but essential to the MCU’s spectacle, have spoken out about grueling hours, tight budgets, and burnout.

Emmy-winning artists have described Marvel’s demand for multiple versions of effects without adequate pay or time as unsustainable, revealing a workforce stretched to breaking point while top executives rake in billions.

Labor unrest has also surfaced in Disney’s theme parks, where cast members—who bring the company’s magic to life—have protested stagnant wages amid soaring ticket prices.

These workers’ struggles reflect a broader pattern of Disney prioritizing shareholder returns over employee well-being.

The 2023 Hollywood strikes further exposed this divide, with Bob Iger dismissing writers’ and actors’ demands as “unrealistic” despite Disney’s record profits, fueling resentment across the creative community.

The scale of pay disparity within the MCU is staggering.

While Robert Downey Jr. earned upwards of $50 million for The Avengers, some co-stars made as little as $200,000 for the same film.

Downey Jr. reportedly refused to return for Age of Ultron unless his colleagues received better compensation, illustrating how Disney’s exploitation was tolerated only until confronted by a star with leverage.

Other actors, like Hugo Weaving and Don Cheadle, have also felt the sting of Disney’s hardline tactics, with promises of rising pay reneged upon or rushed contracts forcing hasty decisions.

This culture of manipulation and fear has silenced many for years, but the courage of stars like Johansson, Renner, and Hemsworth is breaking the silence.

The public airing of these disputes, amplified by social media, has shifted the power dynamics in Hollywood.

Actors now have platforms to bypass traditional PR filters and speak directly to fans, who overwhelmingly support calls for fair treatment.

This transparency challenges studios to rethink how they manage talent relationships, balancing financial goals with respect and goodwill.

Disney’s current challenges are compounded by a series of creative missteps and public controversies, from the divisive Snow White remake to criticisms of formulaic storytelling and ideological messaging.

As the company navigates leadership changes and cost-cutting pressures, its reputation suffers not just from declining creative quality but also from its treatment of the very people who make its stories possible.

For fans, the departure or diminished roles of beloved actors like Jeremy Renner would signal a bittersweet turning point.

While new characters like Kate Bishop may carry the torch, the loss of original Avengers leaves a void both on screen and in the hearts of audiences who have followed these heroes for over a decade.

Ultimately, the Avengers cast going off on Disney’s CEO is more than a series of contract disputes—it’s a fight for dignity, respect, and fairness in an industry grappling with the tension between art and commerce.

The heroes who once battled villains on screen are now standing up to corporate greed behind the scenes, reminding us all that some fights are worth having, no matter the cost.

As this story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Disney’s empire, built on tales of heroism and justice, must reckon with the very real human costs behind its glittering facade.

Whether the company chooses to change its ways or faces further fallout remains to be seen.

But the voices of those who brought the Marvel universe to life will not be silenced any longer.