It looks like Chinese censors are excited about the MCU's Phase Five, as Marvel Studios' official social media handle in the country has confirmed that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released in China next month.
The decision to release Ant-Man 3 and Black Panther 2 represents a drastic shift in policy on behalf of Chinese authorities, as for the past 3 years, Marvel films suffered an apparent shadow ban in the mainland due to a multitude of reasons ranging from depictions of LGBTQ scenes in movies to statements made by the films’ stars or their creators. 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home was the last MCU flick to get a theatrical release in China, with every film since Black Widow missing out, on top of Disney Plus not being available in the country.
News of Black Panther 2 and Ant-Man 3 landing in China was shared by Marvel Studios' Weibo account (China's version of Twitter), with the announcement specifying that the two movies will come out on February 7 and 17, respectively. Not only that, in Ant-Man 3's case, the release date means that the film will premiere on the same date as most parts of the world, just like Avatar: The Way of Water. This will bode well for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's box office prospects.
Chinese Marvel fans were quick to express their excitement over the MCU finally coming back to their home nation. Some even expressed disbelief until they had bought tickets. Although Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will have been on Disney Plus by then and thus also available through illegal downloads, the extra push could bolster the film’s current $835.4 million box office haul.
Although it’s anyone’s guess why Chinese officials have changed their mind about the MCU, it will be interesting to see if Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's slight nod at a romantic relationship between Ayo and Aneka will be kept in the Chinese cut, or even how Marvel Studios will handle marketing in China given the previous controversies regarding 2018’s Black Panther. Disney has surely missed the Chinese box office market over the past three years, as the lower box office numbers have affected the company’s balance sheet.
It’s a mystery if Disney's change in management now that Bob Iger is back as CEO had anything to do with China allowing Marvel movies back in the country, but even more so is what will happen when MCU films feature topics or people deemed unwelcome by the Chinese government.
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is scheduled for release on February 17, 2023.
Source: Weibo