Malaysia affirms cancellation of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ release

Malaysian theater operator Golden Screen Cinemas has reported that “Thor: Love and Thunder” won’t get a theatrical release in the country. This follows on from declarations two weeks ago that the film was indefinitely deferred.

“Dear valued customers, please be informed that Disney has updated that Marvel Studios’ Thor Love and Thunder’ will not be releasing in Malaysia after all. We appreciate your patience and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” GSC said in its social media feeds.

It finished with the rejoinder: “Please buy our merchandise, OK.” That is the second piece of tongue in cheek criticism emanating from the country’s largest cinema chain inside a week. Shortly after the Marvel Studios presentation at Comic-Con, GSC disseminated the forward calendar of Marvel film releases but crossed out “Thor.”

Directed by Taika Waititi, the film was released on July 8 in North America, where it has netted $283 million to date. Around the world, “Thor” has already collected $685 million.

The deferment move is the second lost release of a Disney-dealt with film in Malaysia in the space of about two months. In June, the release of Pixar animation “Lightyear” was dropped in Malaysia after the country’s censorship authority (LPF) requested slices to the film, comprehended to incorporate an equivalent gender kiss, for the film to get release certification. Disney declined to make the cuts and is supposed to put “Lightyear” out directly on streaming service Disney+ Hotstar. Malaysia was one of almost twenty, generally Muslim-majority nations which had a problem with the gay hints of “Lightyear.”

Disney offered no comment on “Thor,” however affirmed that that the release won’t proceed. The LPF again requested cuts, which the studio picked not to make.

GSC’s aggravation at the deficiency of another significant Hollywood title mirrors the financial harm that Malaysian films have experienced north of two years of on-off COVID control measures. Film confirmations crashed from a normal of 77 million every year in the 2017-2019 period to simply 3.72 million out of 2021. Exhibitors likewise gripe that the dramatic window in the nation has now divided from 90 days to only 45 days.