The newly released Marvel and Sony film Venom: Let There Be Carnage has been quite a big success domestically. However, some fans have noticed that the film has yet to receive any kind of release date for a premiere in China. Now rumors are beginning to circulate as to why, and it seems that it China could very well be deciding to ban the Marvel sequel.
As noted by Variety over the matter, Tom Hardy actually made a few comments about China back in 2012. These comments were made while Tom Hardy was promoting his film Lawless. At one point he was asked about Marlon Brando, and Tom Hardy took the opportunity to joke about one of his films. In particular, he called Brando’s film “The Teahouse of the August Moon,” “The Tea Rising in Shanghai.” He further called Brando’s character in the film, which Brando portrayed via yellowface, “the Chinaman.”
If that wasn’t enough, Tom Hardy further joked about China. After calling Brando’s character “the Chinaman” a second time, he went on to say how he thought it was “great” actors took the time to play such roles. He used another example, citing how Mickey Rooney wore yellowface in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and that it was also “great.”
More specifically, he went on to say the following:
“I mean to say: These are legends, and even legends are fallible. Reach for the stars and catch the moon! If I am duly compared to Marlon Brando at all, well, I can only think of ‘The Teahouse of the Shanghai Noon,’ that they’re comparing me to that!”
He then took the time to make much more controversial comments about China:
“Mmm, well it won’t be [like this] when China rolls on us in fifteen years and we’ll all have to speak Cantonese. Then people will have to grow the fuck up, won’t they? Up to a trillion dollars in debt, then we actually realize that we really are in debt and that China’s a major creditor…”
He further emphasized these comments:
“There’s more people in China than there are here. Who are we to stand in the way of what God wants, or whatever your concept of that is? No man can stop a tidal wave…It’s just the rise and collapse of civilizations!
“You face the fucking fear and you face it head on. Because it’s going to happen anyway, and it’s not a bad thing! It’s called evolution. How’s your Cantonese?”
As you can imagine, a lot of people, especially those that are Chinese, were offended by Tom Hardy’s comments. With China having already cancelled and banned other Hollywood movies from releasing in their country, it wouldn’t be surprising if they chose to do the same and ban Venom: Let There Be Carnage over Tom Hardy’s comments.
Fans are currently able to purchase Venom: Let There Be Carnage digitally, with a physical release of the hit Marvel film due on December 14. These releases will include a variety of special features as well.