Disney Forced to Reveal Star Wars Pay Secrets After Gina Carano's Legal Win

In a significant court decision favoring Gina Carano, a U.S. District Court has mandated Disney to disclose crucial documents concerning the remuneration of other Star Wars actors, such as Pedro Pascal, Rosario Dawson, and the cast of The Mandalorian & Grogu. This directive follows eight months of what Carano referred to as Disney’s evasive tactics in her wrongful termination lawsuit.

24-cv-01009, the court has mandated that Disney must provide verified spreadsheets detailing actor compensation for ‘The Mandalorian’, related Disney+ series, and an upcoming film within a 20-day timeframe. This decision partially satisfies Gina Carano’s request to compel, signifying a significant turning point in her legal dispute with the expansive media conglomerate Disney, one of Hollywood’s giants.

In the legal proceedings involving Gina Carano, a judge has ordered Disney to disclose details about how actors such as Pedro Pascal, Rosario Dawson, and others from ‘The Mandalorian’ series on Disney+, other Star Wars shows on the platform, and the upcoming film ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ were cast and compensated.

— Gene Schaerr (@GSchaerr) April 7, 2025

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that in my legal battle with Disney, progress has been made! My attorney, Gene Schaerr, announced on X that the court has granted discovery motion. This means Disney must disclose details about how talented individuals such as Pedro Pascal, Rosario Dawson, and many other stars from The Mandalorian, related Star Wars shows on Disney+, and the upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu were compensated for their roles. I’m eager to see the transparency this decision brings!

What Is a Motion to Compel—And What Just Happened?

They are not fulfilling their obligations. Judge, please order them to do so.

Back in April 8 months ago, Carano’s legal representatives submitted a motion, asserting that Disney had delayed or obstructed the discovery process for nearly a year prior to that.

Her lawyers are asking Disney to share internal information so an expert can estimate the potential earnings of Carano if she hadn’t been fired in 2021. The court believes this request for salary data among Star Wars actors is reasonable, important, and essential for determining lost wages.

As per the court document, the main issue at hand for both parties is determining what specific information the Plaintiff requires (either for her personal use or to pass on to her expert witness regarding damages) to prove how much she could have potentially earned from her job with Walt Disney on The Mandalorian TV show, if her employment hadn’t been terminated by Walt Disney in February 2021.

What Did Gina Win—and What’s Next?

The court allowed Carano’s legal team to proceed with some crucial aspects as requested, although it didn’t fulfill all of her demands.

Disney must produce actor compensation records within 20 days of the order.
The documents must include verified spreadsheets—not vague summaries or cherry-picked numbers.
The scope includes The Mandalorian, other Disney+ Star Wars series, and the upcoming Mandalorian & Grogu film.
If more records are needed, Carano’s lawyers can ask for additional evidence after reviewing what Disney hands over.

Essentially, this victory in the Gina Carano Disney lawsuit is significant because it could lead to further disclosure of information if the expert involved feels that the initial evidence presented is insufficient.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, the recent ruling in this intense legal conflict between Disney and the court demonstrates that they can’t hide crucial details under the guise of procedural tricks. As lawyer Schaerr put it, the court is making it clear that Disney can’t bury relevant information during this high-stakes battle.

What the Court Granted Gina Carano

[The items ordered to be handed over by Disney include…]

Disney should supply authenticated documents or summaries detailing the amounts each actor was compensated.

Pedro Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Carl Weathers — across The Mandalorian Seasons 1–3.
Rosario Dawson in The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka Seasons 1–2.
Amandla Stenberg in The Acolyte.
Diego Luna in Andor Seasons 1–2.

Disney should provide the genuine contract documents of Carl Weathers for seasons 1-3 of The Mandalorian, with any redactions confined to private or sensitive information.

3. Spreadsheet detailing actor pay for those reprising roles in the “Mandalorian & Grogu” film: Disney must once more confirm the authenticity of the listed compensation amounts.

4. Disclosure Requirements: Disney is also obligated to disclose authentic details about the remuneration given to lead and supporting actors across the Star Wars series on Disney+, namely The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew. This is particularly important if the payment structures vary among these shows.

What the Court Denied Gina Carano (Ror Now)

In simpler terms, the judge refused Carano’s pleas for access to contracts of other actors apart from Carl Weathers, as well as the financial details like budgets and earnings from the Star Wars TV series and movies.

However, this door isn’t fully closed.

The court ruled that Carano’s legal team may refile their requests for certain items once they reveal their expert witness, but only under the condition that this expert clearly explains the connection between these numbers and their damage calculation model, and also demonstrates that no alternative data exists which could take its place as a suitable substitute.

So, this was a strategic denial, not a shutdown.

Other Key Notes from the Order

The 20-day timeline is strict, but the parties can agree to modify it as long as it doesn’t violate the trial schedule.
The info can be given on an attorneys-eyes-only basis, but Gina’s expert is allowed to use it to build her case.
Disney tried to get sanctions or penalties against Carano’s side—the court flat-out denied that request.
The April 23 hearing was cancelled because the judge resolved the issue in writing.

What If Disney Doesn’t Comply With Gina Carano Motion to Compel?

Should Disney fail to meet the 20-day deadline or attempt to prolong the process once more, there could be significant repercussions.

The court has several options for penalizing the company, such as imposing fines or requiring Disney to cover Carano’s legal expenses due to time wasting. Moreover, the judge may revoke Disney’s ability to challenge future evidence disclosures, enabling Carano’s team to obtain additional internal information with reduced opposition. If matters worsen, Disney could face contempt of court charges, which would be akin to provoking an angry bear and carry negative implications in both public opinion and the courtroom setting.

Essentially, not complying could make Disney appear uncooperative and potentially concealing something, strengthening Carano’s argument that her dismissal wasn’t merely unfair but also targeted and biased.

A Pattern of Disrespect?

This significant legal advancement occurred not long ago, following Carano’s harsh criticism of Disney on X over persistent disrespect towards her even after her dismissal. This includes a recent ESPN Women’s History Month tribute that overlooked her contribution to Mixed Martial Arts, despite her pivotal role in its development.

In an earlier post, Gina stated, “Disney’s bias is as clear as can be.” She suggests this could be the reason for their hesitance to present the evidence that they already have on hand.

Gina Carano claims that Disney applies unequal standards when dealing with political or ideological remarks from actors, suggesting that other individuals associated with the company have made much more questionable statements yet have not been dismissed.

Elon Musk’s financial backing has made her legal action a focal point for those who oppose cancel culture, enforced corporate ideologies, and the suppression of differing opinions in entertainment.

This recent court ruling increases the pressure on Disney, and their traditional tactic of remaining silent might not be effective for much longer.

2025-04-07 23:56

Disney Forced to Reveal Star Wars Pay Secrets After Gina Carano’s Legal Win