EXCLUSIVE: In accordance with the home studio Walt Disney Animation Studios A strange world will make its offshore theatrical debut this week and is awaiting an overseas launch $21 million – $29 million range. That’s less than a new Disney animated film might normally start, but the studio has volunteered to enter more than 20 markets, opting not to ship the film in countries where its LGBTQ+ content would very likely force edit requests.
A strange world introduces the key character Ethan (voiced by Jaboukie Young-White), who is in love with another boy in the film. This is an integral part of the story. Unwilling to make any changes that would affect the telling of the story, Disney made a precautionary decision not to submit the film to the censors where problems might arise.
These include the entire Middle East, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam, East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya), West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana), Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh. (Naturally, given the current geopolitical context, the film was not given to Russia).
According to a Disney spokesperson: “In the countries where we operate, we strive to share our stories in their original form as we and the participating artists created them. If we make adjustments for legal or other reasons, they will be as narrow as possible. We won’t make edits if we think it would affect the narrative. We will not distribute the content in that market under these circumstances.”
Dis has a lot of experience with censors and has refused to make requested edits when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues in particular over the past year. Steven Spielberg West Side Story last winter it was introduced in the Middle East, where Saudi Arabia and Kuwait did not approve distribution certificates. Censors in other markets demanded cuts that Disney chose not to make. Similarly, last year, Saudi Arabia and other markets were looking for cuts in Marvel’s Eternals which included a same-sex kiss. Dis disagreed (in UAE version Eternals was eventually released, which removed all intimate scenes – both heterosexual and homosexual – as is generally the practice there).
We understand that Disney rates movies by title and territory by territory. In some cases, it may be possible to accept a higher rating instead of cuts (this has long been the practice of all studies in Russia).
By taking this preventative step with A strange world, Dis is probably leaving money on the table. Last years Encanto in the same markets as $25 million A strange world does not release – and that in itself was lower than could be given Encanto they went out when many of these areas were fighting Omikron.
Major overseas markets are being released A strange world on Wednesday they include the UK, Italy, Korea and Japan. They will be followed by Australia, Brazil, Germany and Mexico on Thursday and Spain on Friday.
As we have already reported, A strange world, which also features characters voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid and Lucy Liu, will go straight to Disney+ in France, though that’s due to a strict market window system rather than a censorship issue. As for markets where it hasn’t been introduced, no post-launch plans have been announced yet.
A strange world directed by Don Hall and written Raya and the last dragon The director is Qui Nguyen. The story follows a legendary family of explorers whose differences may destroy their last major adventure.
