‘Shang-Chi’ China Release Unlikely In Wake Of Unearthed Comments By Star Simu Liu; ‘Eternals’ Hopes In Question
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The prospects forDisney/Marvel’sShang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings getting a China release date are dwindling. This in the wake of comments originally made by starSimu Liu in 2017 which resurfaced this week and have made waves on Chinese social media. In a 2017 interview with the CBC, the Chinese-Canadian actor referenced his parents telling him of conditions under Communist rule and referring to China as a “third world” country where people were “dying of starvation.”
While it was already iffy thatShang-Chi would get a Middle Kingdom date — the market has been stingy of late — its fate may now be sealed. The Chinese government, and the propaganda department which oversees film, have shown themselves to be mercurial to say the least — recall that years-old comments made by Chinese-born Chloe Zhao appeared to kibosh the release of her Oscar-winningNomadland. Initially, Zhao was heralded in the Middle Kingdom for her accomplishments, but as soon as her comments reappeared, sentiment turned the other way.
A question mark has been hanging over Zhao’s Marvel title TheEternals, and the current brouhaha with Liu makes it seem likely that film will not be approved. However, it remains an open question as to whether the government or Zhao would attempt to “rehabilitate” the situation.
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Disney, whoseBlack Widowhas also lingered on the shelf and is not expected to be released theatrically in China, is not the only studio facing difficult times in the world’s currently largest box office market. AlthoughFree Guy was granted a release — and has done bang-up business ($67M to date), the powers that be have been holding off with access over the past few months. Pre-Free Guy, the last Hollywood movies allowed were back in May and June.
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118 Comments
- Ray
I’m going defend the Chinese Netizen regarding their reaction to his interview. Yes, his family probably was from the poor era of China where starvation and famine happened. But do you guys know why? It was because China was invaded, occupied, looted, and bombarded by The West (G8) along with the damn Japanese! So you gotta understand where the hatred and resentments are from. It took a century for China to get back where they once were.
- Sam
Hollywood need to start grow a pair of ball, and make China say I “want” your film, not I “approve” your film.
- TTVOMJ
These comments are a wrong time investment as is the universal suffrage xD bye
- Peter Chow
wait til you find his deleted comments about Mark Wahlberg..
- Anonymous
Forget China! Why would anyone want to cater to a country where the government will ban your product over one employee’s critical comment? It’s just pure childish behavior. The more we cater to them, the more they think it’s ok to behave that way. Instead, let’s focus on the rest of the world because there is a market outside of China.
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