Harrison Ford in Ender’s Game
After an alien race called the Formics (also known as the “Buggers”) attacks Earth, the International Fleet prepare for the next invasion by training the best young children to find the future leader to lead the International Military. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy but strategically brilliant boy, is pulled out of his Earth school to join International Fleet and attend the legendary Battle School in Space. After easily mastering the increasingly difficult war games, distinguishing himself and winning respect among his peers, Ender is soon ordained by Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) as the military’s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he’s trained by Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley) himself to lead the military into a war that will determine the future of Earth and the human race.
In March 2013, some media experts said that Card, “also credited as a producer on the film, could pose a major problem for Summit as it begins its publicity campaign.” Media monitoring organization GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) issued a statement critical of Card and his anti-gay activism, suggesting that the buying public may not “support his creative endeavors”. In July, the group Geeks Out launched a website campaign to boycott the film. Mark Umbach, a public relations expert not associated with the film, commented “there is a huge LGBT audience for science fiction, and it’s going to be hard for those fans to separate Card’s comments from his work.” Andy Lewis and Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: “The new scrutiny of Card’s views could be a problem for the $110 million ‘Ender’s Game’ movie”.In response to the boycott, Card released a statement in July to Entertainment Weekly: “Ender’s Game is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984. With the recent Supreme Court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot. The Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution will, sooner or later, give legal force in every state to any marriage contract recognized by any other state. Now it will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute.”Producer Roberto Orci responded in Entertainment Weekly in March that he wasn’t aware of Card’s views when he took on the film adaptation: “It didn’t occur to me to do background checks on anybody.” He said that “the movie should be judged on its message, not the personal beliefs of the original author,” who had minimal involvement in the film. He also said that “If it’s on the screen, then I think it’s fair game.” Lionsgate Entertainment released a statement distancing themselves from Card, writing “As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community. we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage”.
