There is a lot of noise about a particular scene in Lightyear, and now the filmmakers and the star are ready to face the controversy. As reported by Variety in March, a gay kiss from Pixar’s upcoming toy spinoff Toy Story was originally cut from the animated film, only to be restored after LGBTQ officials and allies at the Disney-owned company sent a joint statement to studio executives protesting censorship. of “invisible homosexual affection”. The studio image emerged as Disney came under increasing scrutiny over its perceived loose response to Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“We always wanted this relationship to be there,” Lightyear director Angus MacLane (Finding Dory) told Yahoo Entertainment about his marriage to Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) – Buzz Lightyear’s best friend and Space Ranger colleague (Chris Evans). – and the woman he grows old with. “It simply came to our notice then [kiss] in there, and they said, “This is the way we will do it now …” “What you saw is what we wanted, so I’m very happy with the end result. We’re surprised that she was so bruised. “ MacLane means it’s surprising that the studio initially disagreed with the scene and not that its employees complained about his dismissal. Disney and Pixar cast members and cast members at the Lightyear World Premiere in Hollywood earlier this month. (Photo: Rich Polk / Getty Images for Disney) The scene will cost Disney some work: As reported Monday, Lightyear is banned in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries for kissing, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Egypt and Indonesia and Malaysia. Although it is not the first big Hollywood movie to be avoided by these countries. “The whole point is to show a love affair that lasts, why… well not a nice modeling for everyone? “That we have a relationship that lasts a lifetime,” says producer Galyn Susman at Yahoo Entertainment. The story goes on Aduba, the Orange Is the New Black erupting in Alisha’s voice, also thanked Pixar for restoring the scene – and Disney continues to take a broader stance on representation and integration. “I’m glad he’s there,” Aduba told Yahoo! “This film opens up a whole new world of how stories can be told, how stories can be re-examined. And I think it’s amazing that Disney-Pixar chose to take this space not just to include such moments, but to include so many different faces and so many stories in one movie, so that every child — young and old — sits in this audience can see a part of themselves in history “. Light Year opens on Friday. Watch the trailer: