Disappointing news for both Warner Bros. Discovery and Marvel Studios today, as THR has confirmed that Black Adam and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are unlikely to be released in China.
This shouldn't come as a major surprise, however, as it's become increasingly difficult for any superhero movie from either studio to secure a theatrical release in the Middle Kingdom. The last six Marvel films have failed to earn permission to screen in the country, and Matt Reeves' The Batman was the only DC Comics movie from the past three years to buck the trend (it didn't perform very well).
Though Beijing regulators have never publicly acknowledged as much, it's believed that a de facto ban on Marvel content has been instituted, and is unlikely to lift anytime soon. This appears to have stemmed from Disney's refusal to edit/cut scenes depicting or referencing LQBTQ+ characters/relationships, though there are other factors (for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals, it was Simu Liu and Chloe Zhao’s disparaging remarks about China; for Spider-Man: No Way Home, it was the prominent display of the Statue of Liberty).
As for Black Adam, sources indicate that Pierce Brosnan's presence may have scuppered its chances. A few years ago, the former James Bond actor posted a 19-year-old photo of his family posing with the Dalai Lama, who is viewed by Beijing as a dangerous separatist.
The Black Panther sequel is not expected to miss the extra revenue too much, but Black Adam really could have done with the boost a China release would have provided.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.