Don’t Look Up director Adam McKay has expressed concern that films like Wicked could face censorship in the United States if current political trends persist.
In a series of posts via
“The first part is openly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism and propaganda,” McKay wrote, adding that its publication is particularly significant “now, when America has never been more right-wing and propagandistic.”
The film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, was recently briefly pulled from theaters in Kuwait, reportedly due to its LGBTQ cast.
McKay acknowledged that Wicked: Part 2, scheduled for release on November 21, 2025, is more conventional, but doubled down on his concerns.
In response to another
Don’t Look Up director Adam McKay has expressed concern that films like Wicked could face censorship in the United States if current political trends persist; (seen in 2020)
In a series of posts via
He went on to say, “It’s strange how many people think that the possibility of movies, books and music being banned in the US in the near future is a ‘crazy’ idea.”
“There’s a whole crowd that really has no idea what’s going on in general.”
The filmmaker also compared Wicked to some of the most iconic films in history, including The Sound of Music, Citizen Kane and Bridge on the River Kwai, as well as modern hits like The Hunger Games, which he called “incredibly left-wing.” ‘
McKay’s remarks come after the film also earned Golden Globe nominations, including Best Musical/Comedy, as well as individual acting nominations for Cynthia Erivo and Grande, solidifying its position as a top contender in this awards season.
Kuwait removed Wicked from its cinema lineup just one day before the film’s scheduled release on Thursday, December 5, sparking speculation about the reasons behind the decision.
While no official explanation has been provided, local reports suggest the removal may be related to the film’s LGBTQ+ cast, according to Variety.
This reflects past actions by Kuwait, which banned Barbie last year, citing protection of “public ethics and social traditions.”
Lebanon also banned Barbie, claiming it “promoted homosexuality.”
“The first part is openly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism and propaganda,” McKay wrote, adding that its publication is particularly significant “now, when America has never been more right-wing and propagandized.”
The film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, was recently briefly pulled from theaters in Kuwait, reportedly due to its LGBTQ cast.
In response to another
While the reason is not officially known, local media speculate that the film’s withdrawal from theaters is due to the LGBTQ+ cast, according to Variety.
If Wicked were to face similar scrutiny, the decision might seem puzzling, since the film does not include overtly LGBTQ+ stories.
However, Grande, who plays Glinda, recently described her character as “a little bit in the closet.”
Additionally, fans have often interpreted the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba as having homoerotic undertones, although the characters are not explicitly queer.
Several cast members, including Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang and Marissa Bode, openly identify as queer, which could increase controversy in more conservative markets.
Despite the ban in Kuwait, Wicked has been a huge hit elsewhere.
The musical fantasy, also starring Ethan Slater and Jeff Goldblum, premiered in the United States during Thanksgiving and broke box office records.
To date, the film has grossed more than $571 million worldwide.