‘Love and Thunder’ In China’s Film Regulator Limbo

This weekend Marvel released the highly anticipated fourth installment of the Thor franchise, Thor: Love and Thunder, and while it’s been making big splashes in the United States box office, the movie has yet to be given the green light by Chinese film regulators, and it’s starting to seem like they don’t plan on it.

According to sources within two major cinema chains in China, rumor has it that Love and Thunder is looking at the same fate that rocked Chris Evans’ Lightyear which was released mere weeks ago. Lightyear was denied a Chinese theatrical release due to minuscule LGBTQ+ themes in the film, something the movie has in common with Love and Thunder.

The Buzz Lightyear story featured a same sex kiss, and while it was not at the center of the plot at all, it was enough to get the film banned after Disney refused to cut the scene. Meanwhile the Marvel film depicts references to the character of Valkyrie’s bisexuality and Korg’s homosexuality.

Nonetheless, this is Marvel Studio’s 8th film in a row to not get released in China due to censorship, making it hard to believe that it Marvel films are one of China’s biggest box office money makers.

Jessie Morales: I am currently a student studying Creative Writing as well as an editor in the Movies department here at mxdwn. I'm looking to pursue Journalism and Screenwriting when I attend college. At the moment I'm enjoying my time garnering experience in the journalistic reporting world while I also attend school taking both academic and conservatory courses.
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