Power Rangers Score Theatrical Release in China

source: hollywoodreporter.com

Whether 'Power Rangers' would land a release in the Middle Kingdom had been the subject of speculation due to a brief scene in which the Yellow Ranger is shown questioning her sexuality.

After several weeks of speculation, Lionsgate’s Power Rangers has secured a release date in China.

The Dean Israelite-directed superhero film, which has earned approximately $100 million at the worldwide box office to date, will open in the Middle Kingdom on May 12.

The new date puts Power Rangers head-to-head with Warner Bros.' King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, directed by Guy Ritchie and opening day and date with North America the same day. It will also face off against Disney-Marvel holdover The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which debuts one week prior on May 5.

Whether Power Rangers would land a China release had been the subject of debate because of a brief scene in which the Yellow Ranger is shown questioning her sexuality. But like Disney's Beauty and the Beast — which opened in China on March 17 despite a fleeting "gay moment" — Power Rangers has gotten the official green light to run uncensored.

China's media regulators have been known to balk at gay content on the big and small screen — gay relationships are officially banned from broadcast television and movies like Brokeback Mountain have been denied a release.

A24, the company that financed and produced Oscar best picture winner Moonlight, is currently working with a Chinese partner to try to arrange a Chinese wide release for that film. Local sources say they aren't optimistic that Barry Jenkins' elegant award winner will receive the same liberal treatment as the two studio blockbusters.