As Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debuts worldwide, fans in China look set to miss out on the highly anticipated film as the country blocks its release.
According to an exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter, the Black Panther sequel will not release in the Asian country thanks to Beijing regulators who have increasingly been cracking down on the United States' access to the market. No definitive reason has been given for its ban as regulators rarely explain their decision-making behind prohibiting a film from being accessed in China. However, speculation is that censors prevented Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from showing because it briefly depicts openly gay characters. Dora Milaje members Aneka, played by Michaela Coel, and Ayo, played by Florence Kasumba, are briefly shown to be in a relationship in the film.
The report confirms the recently released Black Adam, starring Dwayne Johnson and with a cameo from Henry Cavill as Superman, has also been blocked. While no reason has been given for that ban either, the rumor making the rounds is that the movie was blocked due to Pierce Brosnan's comments on and association with Dalai Lama, who is viewed as a separatist in Beijing.
The first Black Panther film, released in February 2018, generated $105 million at the Chinese box office that year, part of the over $1.34 billion it grossed worldwide since it came out. With regulators banning the sequel from airing, Marvel Studios are set to lose out on tens or hundreds of millions in revenue they would have garnered otherwise. With that said, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still expected to be a worldwide box office hit, with early projections ranging from $180 to $200 million on opening weekend. China has the second-biggest theatrical market in the world and has been seen as a consistently profitable market for moviemakers.
China Continues to Block American Films
The news about Wakanda Forever is the latest in an increasing shutdown of Marvel movies in China. Marvel films have long been huge earners for Hollywood in China but have failed to feature in the country since July 2021 when Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson, was blocked. Beijing film industry players believe the de facto ban on Marvel won't end anytime soon.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stars Letitia Wright (Shuri), Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda), Tenoch Huerta (Namor), Lupita Nyong'o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye) and Dominique Thorne (Ironheart). The film premiered at a Hollywood red carpet event on Oct. 26 and pays tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who played Black Panther/T'Challa in the first installment of the Black Panther franchise.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now playing in theaters.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter