The British newspaper The Guardian reports that China is lifting its ban on showing Marvel films after 3.5 years.

Therefore, films likeBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantum Mania” is expected in February, after the Chinese New Year. The two films mark Marvel’s first releases in the world’s second largest market. The last film that was shown in cinemas in the country was in 2019 and Avengers: Endgame.

International film releases are approved or rejected by China Film Administration (CFA) regulators for censorship purposes or to “protect” the domestic film industry. The reasons for Marvel’s exclusion were never made clear. Analysts, however, have offered a number of explanations from time to time, such as the presence of LGBTQI+ characters, symbols of American patriotism, and the hiring of director Chloe Zhao, who criticized her country in an interview.

But recently, China changed its attitude towards Hollywood when it allowed James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water to premiere during the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is normally only allowed for Chinese films. To date, the film has grossed over $220 million at the box office.

According to APE-MPE, The Guardian