News
'Misfits' to Drop Leper Scene
Jan 31, 2012—Kids animated movie The Pirates! Band of Misfits will have a comic scene altered because it offended leprosy organizations, according to news reports. Sony Pictures is scheduled to release Pirates! Band of Misfits on April 27 in the United States (a trailer with the leper scene is in the video window on this website).
“With a cast boasting the acting chops of Hugh Grant, Jeremy Piven, David Tennant and Salma Hayek, the movie’s trailer has caused an issue with leprosy campaigning groups,” says a story in the Hollywood Reporter. “In the trailer the Grant-voiced Pirate Captain lands on a ship demanding gold, but is told by a crew member: ‘Afraid we don’t have any gold old man, this is a leper boat. See.’ After issuing the explanation, the sailor’s arm drops off.”
The movie's producers announced they will erase the offense. Any controversy is blowing over because the Global Post reports that “Lepra Health in Action released a statement saying that it is… ‘genuinely delighted’” with fast affirmative action by the filmmakers.
Movies and their creative materials like trailers occasionally are surprised to step into landmines of controversy, such as medical groups complaining about depictions of smoking or other on-screen activity.
Pirates! Band of Misfits is produced by United Kingdom-based Aardman Animation, which is famous for absurdist humor, and its quirky British man and dog character team of Wallace & Gromit.
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www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aardman-animation-change-leprosy-scene-284199
www.marketingmovies.net/news/medical-group-rips-film-scenes-seeks-r-ratings/
www.marketingmovies.net/chapters/chapter-1-creative-strategy-for-marketing/