Actress Bonnie Aarons, known for her role in ‘The Nun,’ is suing Warner Bros. She claims they didn’t reveal the actual earnings from merchandise with her character, “Valak.” Her contract states she should get a portion of the money from such merchandise. However, between 2019 and 2022, she received statements that didn’t match the widespread merchandise sales. When she asked for details, the studio only provided a partial list, according to the lawsuit.
Aarons filed a complaint on Tuesday in Los Angeles court against Warner Bros, New Line Cinema, and Scope Productions. She claims she received $71,500 as fixed pay for her role in The Nun and a $175,000 bonus linked to box office success. She got the bonus after the film earned over $365 million on a $22 million budget.
The agreement mentioned in the complaint states that Aarons was guaranteed a share of 5% of 50% of the gross earnings from merchandise licensing. The lawsuit specifies that the merchandise in question covers items like toys, dolls, decorations, pins, jewelry, T-shirts, socks, bedding, costumes, drinkware, and posters, all featuring Ms. Aarons’ likeness.
She claims, “Instead of accounting and paying in a transparent fashion, Warner Bros. obscures and hides the true amount of Ms. Aarons’ rightful share of merchandising revenues, all while continuing to exploit her.”
In 2016, Aarons played the role of “Valak” or “The Nun” in The Conjuring 2. This success led to a standalone series for her character, The Nun (2018), and the upcoming sequel, The Nun 2, releasing on September 8, 2023.
The Nun 2 follows, “1956 – France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun. Taissa Farmiga returns as Sister Irene, joined by Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell, and Bonnie Aarons, surrounded by an ensemble cast of international talent.” Watch the trailer below.
The Conjuring Universe is the highest-grossing horror franchise in history, with over $2 billion earned worldwide. Globally, four titles from The Conjuring Universe have exceeded $300 million in worldwide earnings each: The Nun ($366 million), The Conjuring 2 ($322 million), The Conjuring ($320 million), and Annabelle: Creation ($307 million). Additionally, all seven films in the franchise have grossed over $200 million individually. The Nun holds the record as the highest-earning film in the franchise, surpassing $366 million worldwide.
