Ender’s Game author’s anti-gay controversy does not deter audiences as film takes number one spot at US box office

Despite calls for a boycott of the Ender’s Game movie release last weekend, due to the book’s author being involved in an anti-gay controversy, the film still opened at the top spot.

An online campaign urged moviegoers to boycott the upcoming release of “Ender’s Game,” a big-budget Hollywood movie based on the work of notoriously anti-gay novelist Orson Scott Card, who last year described same-sex attraction as a “reproductive dysfunction”.

A human rights group in August called for the sacking Card from his new position as a board member at a US university’s public television channel, after he compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler.

The film, however, took $28 million ( £17.5 million) at the US box office, with the film having taken advantage of the delay in the release of Thor: The Dark World.

Last week it was revealed that Card would not make money from ticket sales of the film, potentially rendering a boycott of the film meaningless. More recent reports, however, suggest that he could cash in on a sequel – a deal for which has not yet been met.

Actor Harrison Ford, who stars in the film last month again defended the Ender’s Game film, which received heavy criticism because of the anti-gay views of Card.

At Comic-Con there were no signs of any protest, despite the calls for a boycott. The film’s director also commented to say that the book the film is based on is “great”, and “is not about” equal marriage.

Screenwriter of the Harvey Milk Biopic ‘Milk’, Dustin Lance Black, weighed into the argument to say that the campaign to boycott the film is “misguided”.

Producing the film, Lionsgate responded, saying it has a longstanding commitment to the LGBT community, and that although it does not agree with Card’s personal opinions they are not linked to the book or the film.

The proponents of the boycott then replied to reject Card’s call for tolerance.

In a more recent interview, Card called criticisms of his anti-gay views ”savage, lying deceptive personal attacks.”

• Nov 29 2023

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