Robert Downey Jr. Leads The Way for Massive Paydays for 'Avengers: Endgame', Other Marvel Contract Details for Stars
Robert Downey Jr. is a really smart man. Downey Jr. receives the backend for his Avengers films and other Marvel films he appears in. He negotiated the deal with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.
Downey Jr. likely walked away with $75 million from Avengers: Infinity War. Even when he did three days work for Spider-Man: Homecoming. RDJ earned $5 million a day. Not as lucrative as his backend deal but still pretty phenomenal.
His other original Avengers co-stars make decent money too. Chris Evans, who had a five-picture deal, renegotiated before Endgame to get a $15 million to $20 million range. Chris Hemsworth did the same before Infinity War and Endgame after signing his initial deal in 2010. Hemsworth got into the same $15 million to $20 million range. Scarlett Johansson isn't done with Marvel yet she will star in and produce the solo Black Widow film earning a $20 million payday.
The deals are now changing at Marvel Studios for obvious reasons. Marvel Studios is becoming a box office behemoth so the dealmaking has changed. Years ago if a Marvel film hit $500 million star bonuses would be received. Now the films have to reach $700 million for the stars to receive bonuses. The latest Avengers films had to pass $1.5 billion before bonuses kicked in.
Many Marvel stars are now receiving their own Disney+ series. The series are going to be between six to eight episodes. Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), and Anthony Mackie (Falcon) negotiated separate deals from outside of their regular Marvel Studios contracts. So, the Disney+ series don't necessarily write off these characters from being in the theatrical outings of the MCU. Separate deals will be made and some are still under contract like Sebastian Stan who signed a multiple movie deal with Marvel. Let's just say I don't think we've seen the last of Scarlet Witch, Winter Soldier, and Falcon in the MCU films.
An interesting Marvel Studios contract blurb is that Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) both have one more movie left on their deals. Both are expected to be sequels to their films. Marvel Studios will probably renegotiate new deals with the stars if their sequels are successful. As Black Panther and Doctor Strange will play big roles in the next phases of the MCU.
Now we wait and see if the paydays for everyone in Endgame are revealed. It is obvious that Hemsworth, Johnasson, Evans, and RDJ are easily in the top tier. Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo may be in the top tier also. But Endgame has tons of stars. So, it would be fascinating to see how all these stars exactly got paid.
Cultjer will keep you update when more info is revealed.
Source: THR
