7 Upcoming Films Destined For Controversy
Pitchforks at the ready...
The controversy surrounding a film can be a very powerful force. It can break a film's chances at a successful box office, can destroy a film's awards potential, and can even harm the film's release. Yet, controversy can also draw in curious audiences and deepen the dialogue surrounding the film. But where does controversy come from?
Whether it be extreme content, the maligned behaviors of someone involved, or simply the socio-political environment surrounding a film's release, controversy manifests in many ways. At a time in which dialogues grow more contentious and the tides of social change are shifting, audiences are far more perceptive and responsive to the messages and content of a film. Here are some films sure to elicit controversy upon their release...
7. Star Wars: Episode IX
Nobody hates Star Wars more than Star Wars fans.
The Force Awakens broke out in 2015 to an all-too-brief moment of unadulterated joy. Star Wars was back and it was good! The spirit of love for the franchise died soon enough as fans lashed against Abrams for supposedly rehashing A New Hope.
And so virulent was the backlash to Star Wars: The Last Jedi for its subversion of Star Wars formula that actress Kelly Marie Tran deleted her social media and director Rian Johnson admitted he experienced "a dark hour of the soul." Though not perfect, The Last Jedi's willingness to make a mess of the Star Wars sandbox and steer the story into new directions was refreshing. The hardcore fans disagreed however, saying The Last Jedi ruined their memories of the beloved franchise and their perceptions of its characters.
With JJ Abrams returning to the director's chair, the fate of General Leia Organa still unknown (though somehow being resolved with unused footage), and the arcs of Rey and Kylo Ren coming to a head, the impossible-to-please Star Wars "fans" out there will certainly enter the theater with expectations too high, plastic lightsabers wielded, and franchise entitlement in full effect.