Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 5-7-19

Entertainment
Robert Downey Jr.'s Massive Payday Tops 'Avengers: Endgame' Star Deals
AVENGERS
Usher Settles $20M Herpes Lawsuit
The Iron Man actor had ne- gotiated a unique financial arrangement with studio chief Kevin Feige to receive back- end profit on the series, result- ing in what sources say was at least a $75 million haul for 'In- finity War.'
Take the fate of Scarlett Jo- hansson, aka Black Widow. Her story arc is definitive in Endgame, but the actress who plays the spy heroine will be re- turning for a 2020 stand-alone film, earning a figure in the $20 million range for both starring and producing.
Or Chris Hemsworth, i.e. Thor, who signed with Marvel for five movies in 2010, then renegotiated in 2017 for Infinity War and Endgame, putting himself in the $15 million to $20 million range and ready for the next phase of films.
Captain America Chris Evans, who also had a five-pic- ture deal, not including cameos, renegotiated in the same $15 million to $20 million range be- fore meeting his fate in Endgame.
Meanwhile, the face of the franchise, Robert Downey, Jr. — Iron Man himself since 2008 — had negotiated a unique financial arrangement with stu- dio chief Kevin Feige that over
the years resulted in massive paydays for the actor. Downey receives backend from the Avengers movies: Multiple knowledgeable sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the actor likely walked away from 2018's Infinity War, which grossed more than $2 billion, with at least $75 million. Even in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecom- ing, he received $5 million a day for three days' work.
Part of Marvel's next phase includes the segueing of many characters to their own series on Disney's new streaming service, Disney+. Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), An- thony Mackie (Falcon), Se- bastian Stan (Winter Soldier) and Jeremy Ren- ner (Hawkeye) negotiated deals that are separate from the movie contracts for what sources say will be six to eight episodes.
The next few big-screen ad- ventures build on the plot threads of Endgame. Chad- wick Boseman (Black Pan- ther) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) have one more op- tion apiece, which will result in sequels to their solo movies, say sources. Their deals will be huge.
Laura Helm, the woman who was suing Usher for $20 million dollars, filed to dismiss her lawsuit earlier this week. According to TMZ, Helm and the platinum-selling singer have “reached an amicable res- olution.”
She claimed Usher — real name Usher Raymond IV — gave her herpes after they had a sexual encounter a few years back. The dismissal was filed with prejudice, which means it can’t be refiled, something typ- ically done when there’s been a financial settlement.
Helm initially sued Usher in 2017, claiming he had ex-
USHER
posed her to the virus when they had unprotected sex. She was originally seeking $10 mil- lion but then raised it to $20 million for emotional harm and punitive damages.
No word on what kind of settlement was reached.
Helm is one of several women who have accused Usher of giving them the sex- ually transmitted disease. Through his lawyers, Laura Wasser and Zia Modabber, Usher denied all of the accu- sations. In fact, he even dis- missed claims they’d had sexual contact in the first place.
Jennifer Hudson And Ex David Otunga Custody Battle Set
Jennifer Hudson’s cus- tody trial with her ex-fiance David Otunga is back on after they failed to reach a private set- tlement over the care of their nine-year-old son, David, Jr.
According to court docu- ments obtained by The Blast, the trial will begin on August 5, and it could last for up to five days. Hudson and Otunga are ex- pected to testify in court to argue their case.
The former couple were pre- viously set to face off at trial in March (19), but their lawyers agreed to hold off on the court date as they attempted to strike a
DAVID OTUNGA AND JENNIFER HUDSON
deal
Clearly that didn’t work because now they are ready to go before the judge.
between themselves.
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 15