EXCLUSIVE: Scarlett Johansson's Divorce Filing a 'Total Shock' to Romain Dauriac, Who Wants Primary Custody of

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Scarlett Johansson's divorce filing on Tuesday was a complete surprise to her husband, French journalist Romain Dauriac, his lawyer tells ET.

ET talked to Hal Mayerson, Dauriac's divorce attorney, on Wednesday, who said that negotiations were ongoing between his client and Johansson before the 32-year-old actress decided to file court papers on March 7. He says Dauriac is now seeking primary custody of their daughter, 3-year-old Rose.

WATCH: Scarlett Johansson Files for Divorce From Husband Romain Dauriac

"This action came as a total shock and surprise to our client," Mayerson says of Johansson's divorce filing. "There had been negotiations going on. We assumed they would continue to go on, and the parties would try to reach an amicable settlement, as it is in everyone’s best interest -- especially in the best interest of their daughter. So why Ms. Johansson decided to throw this into the court system and to have her daughter potentially investigated by a forensic psychiatrist or psychologist is a bit surprising to us."

"As a result of these papers, we will have to answer them," he continues. "And Mr. Dauriac will be seeking to have primary physical custody of his daughter, because he has been historically the primary physical custodian of their daughter."

Mayerson says Dauriac is planning to relocate with Rose to Paris.

"Ms. Johansson has two apartments [in Paris], and he is open to her having the child in Paris as often as she comes to Paris to have the child," he says. "She certainly has more than adequate homes there, so that is what his goal is."

In court papers obtained by ET, Johansson requested joint legal custody of Rose, and that residential custody be consistent with the child's best interests. The Ghost in the Shell star also asked for the enforcement of the couple's prenuptial agreement signed on Sept. 24, 2014.

Dauriac sent out a statement on Wednesday, calling his ex's court filing "unfortunate."

"It is indeed unfortunate, especially for our daughter, that Scarlett filed in Court and made our personal differences so public," the statement obtained by ET reads. "I would implore her to withdraw her action promptly and to go back, as uncomfortable as it might be, to the negotiating table. We are the parents of a lovely daughter whom we will continue to co-parent for many years and share her joys and sorrows as only a parent can."

Meanwhile, Johansson released her own statement to ET on Wednesday regarding her split from Dauriac, and appealed for privacy.

WATCH: Scarlett Johansson Opens Up About Marriage, Says It's 'a Lot of Work' to Be Monogamous

"As a devoted mother and private person and with complete awareness that my daughter will one day be old enough to read the news about herself, I would only like to say that I will never, ever be commenting on the dissolution of my marriage," the statement read. "Out of respect for my desires as a parent and out of respect for all working moms, it is with kindness that I ask other parties involved and the media to do the same. Thank you."

Johansson and Dauriac married in 2014. The two first sparked split rumors in January -- after the actress stepped out sans ring -- though interestingly enough, the couple continued to make public appearances together afterwards. Later that month, they happily posed for photos together when they attended a reception at the Simon Lee Gallery in New York City.

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--Reporting by Darla Murray