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The Walt Disney Company has established itself over the past century as a provider of wholesome entertainment suitable for all ages. This longstanding reputation makes it particularly vulnerable to criticism when it tries to expand its definition of “family-friendly” content.
Conservative critics often target Hollywood studios, particularly Disney, when they perceive elements of diversity in representation regarding race, gender, or sexuality. This scrutiny has intensified, pushing Disney executives, including CEO Bob Iger, into the center of ongoing culture wars, despite their attempts to remain neutral.
Recently, the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps has sparked controversy on social media, particularly due to the portrayal of a female Silver Surfer played by Julia Garner. Critics are framing this casting choice as part of an alleged “woke agenda” by the studio, reflecting similar backlash faced by other Disney projects in recent years.
Lightyear (2022)
The animated film Lightyear faced significant backlash over a minor scene that featured a kiss between Buzz’s friend Alisha Hawthorne and her wife, voiced by Uzo Aduba. This moment drew ire from conservative outlets, coupled with criticism over Pixar’s decision to replace conservative actor Tim Allen with Chris Evans for the voice of Buzz Lightyear. This led to a perception that the film was emblematic of an agenda, contributing to a disappointing box office performance of $226.4 million against a production budget that resulted in losses exceeding $100 million.
Strange World (2022)
Disney’s Strange World attempted to navigate its own controversies by downplaying one of its key features: Ethan Clade, the film’s openly gay protagonist, voiced by Jaboukie Young-White. This revelation incited a predictable backlash from conservative audiences, which, along with an unappealing art style and poor word of mouth, contributed to a dismal box office take of just $73.6 million, equating to a staggering estimated loss of nearly $200 million.
The Marvels (2023)
The film The Marvels encountered a torrent of negative discourse, particularly aimed at Brie Larson, stemming from past comments she made about representation in film. While Larson’s prior roles were commercially successful, her latest film did not fare as well. Critics and audiences alike were put off by a muddled narrative and tonal inconsistencies, resulting in a worldwide gross of $206.1 million against a hefty budget of $374 million, marking it as one of Marvel’s biggest disappointments.
The Acolyte (2024)
The Acolyte, a new entry in the Star Wars franchise, has faced intense scrutiny, often derisively referred to as “The Wokelyte” by critics. The show’s diverse cast and the sexual orientation of its creator and lead actor, Amandla Stenberg, have led to accusations of promoting an LGBTQ+ agenda. This backlash has manifested not only in critiques of the show’s content but also in targeted harassment towards Stenberg. Ultimately, viewership declines and a high production budget, reportedly exceeding $200 million, led to the series’ cancellation before it even had a chance to build a solid audience.
Snow White (2025)
Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White faced critique prior to its release, primarily for casting Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress, in the titular role. Zegler’s outspoken views on the outdated nature of the original film, along with vocal support for political movements, drew further ire from some factions. Despite receiving some positive feedback for her performance, the film amassed only $184.9 million globally against a production budget reported to be between $240 million and $270 million, leading Disney to reassess its strategy for upcoming adaptations.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
In an interesting turn, the casting of Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps has not provoked significant backlash, which may be attributed to his rising popularity from roles in Game of Thrones and The Mandalorian. In contrast, the announcement of Julia Garner as the female Silver Surfer has stirred controversy among certain segments of the comic book fanbase. Though there have been previous instances of the character’s female counterpart, the familiarity of Norrin Radd, the traditional male Silver Surfer, complicates acceptance of this change. Comic artist Mark Brooks has sought to clarify that the Silver Surfer mantle is not exclusively tied to one character, urging that negative reactions stem from a lack of understanding of comic lore.
As Disney and Marvel navigate these controversies leading up to the release on July 25, they will need to focus their marketing efforts on promoting the film itself, rather than the surrounding cultural debates.
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