Lionsgate Presents The LA Premiere Of Saban's Power Rangers (Photo : Getty Images)

The Lionsgate movie “Power Rangers” got the approval of China’s censor for theatrical release on May 12 even if it has a gay character. The media speculated that the film may suffer the fate of “Beauty and the Beast” which had also a gay character, but the Disney movie was eventually approved with no cuts.




Character Questions Sexuality



While Le Fou in the Disney movie had a passing gay moment only, the character in “Power Rangers” questions her sexuality, according to Variety. The film’s opening date is the same as “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” which shows simultaneously in China and the U.S.



The movie, directed by Dean Israelite, opens a week after the May 5 debut of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” in China. Huaxia Distribution and China Film Group, state-owned companies, are the ones handling the China release of “Power Rangers.”



In a bid to court Chinese moviegoers, the film cast Chinese actor Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger. The movie opened in several countries on March 24, including the U.S. So far, it has grossed $65.7 million in North America and $33 million in other markets.



Nostalgia for Franchise & Actors



The movie is a reboot of the 1990s franchise. Its strong box-office performance is largely due to nostalgia, including two actors who played rangers in past “Power Rangers” movies. They are Amy Jo Johnson, the original Pink Ranger, and Jason David Frank, the Green Ranger/Tommy Oliver, in more than a dozen “Power Ranger” productions since 1993, according to Screen Rant.



His last portrayal as Green Ranger was in “Power Rangers Super Megaforce: The Legendary Battle” shown in 2015. Because Frank’s Tommy character was mentioned in the upcoming movie during the mid-credits scene, there are speculations the Green Ranger would be involved in future sequels of the franchise since there are at least five in the planning stage.

