By Recently came the news that “Wicked” was potentially being pulled from cinemas in Kuwait after the title was removed from local cinema listings.
The ban, which was scrapped, wasn’t for any content on screen per se but seemingly because the film sported a fairly large LGBTQ cast. It followed on from “Barbie” being banned the year before for “ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society”.
Now “Anchorman” and “The Big Short” filmmaker Adam McKay says he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the film was pulled from U.S. release in the next few years because of America’s political direction. Posting on X on Tuesday, he says:
“On a pure storytelling level ‘Wicked Part 1’ is right up there as one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made. I know ‘Part 2’ swings back to the center a bit but ‘Part 1’ is nakedly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda.
What’s really striking about ‘Wicked Part 1’ is that it’s coming out NOW when America has never been more right wing and propagandized. And yes, I know the theatrical production and the book are much older so part of the timing is a coincidence but still.”
It’s then he responded to a user surprised by his take on the film, saying: “I think you’ll be shocked. If America keeps going on the track it is I wouldn’t be surprised to see the movie banned in 3-5 years.”
McKay also cited other ‘radical studio’ films like “The Searchers,” “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, “The Sound of Music” and even “The Hunger Games” which he dubs “incredibly left wing”.
“Wicked” is expected to be a best picture nominee at the Oscars when the nominations are announced next month.
The post Adam McKay: “Wicked” Could Be Banned In U.S. appeared first on Dark Horizons.
