8 Upcoming Movies That Have Sparked Massive Controversy

Though we all watch movies for a temporary escape from the daily grind, it's often impossible to avoid the big issues and controversies that can surround them.

Where there's subjectivity, there's divisiveness, and where there's an internet connection, there's somebody voicing a concern or a worry, questioning something a movie appears to be doing, or starting a conversation to try and bring about change within the industry.

Movies have been controversial since the inception of the art form. The fact that they have such a wide reach - and are therefore capable of influencing millions of people, young and old - means that a flick is immediately scrutinised and discussed if it takes a wrong turn in production, marketing or content.

There are plenty of past movies that have been treated this way - the infamous reception to The Interview, a parody of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, among the most notable - but there are also a handful of upcoming movies privy to the same inspection, whether that's because they've made mistakes of their own, or are victims of circumstances outside their control.

Release Date: 13 February 2018

The Controversy: The Black Panther controversy first surfaced in April 2017, after footage from the film was screened to the press.

In this footage, characters Ayo and Okoye (members of the Dora Milaje, Black Panther’s elite female bodyguards) appeared to flirt with each other, with Okoye gazing longingly at her fellow teammate.

The implication here was that the two would share a romantic relationship in the film. In the comics, Ayo is a canonically gay character and the spinoff book World Of Wakanda is all about her relationship with another woman, so precedent for a lesbian relationship in Black Panther has already been set.

But shortly after, a Marvel representative reached out to Vanity Fair to make it clear that Ayo and Okoye's relationship would not be a romantic one. Fans did not respond well to this in the slightest, and the controversy spawned its own popular hashtag, #LetAyoHaveAGirlfriend.

Black Panther is Marvel's most culturally diverse film to date so it would be a shame if it wasn't keen to explore sexuality in a similarly open-minded fashion, but to give the filmmakers some credit, that representative never said that Ayo and Okoye are both straight - just that the two characters won't share a relationship.