For Lionsgate, Orson Scott Card – the author, who wrote the novel on which Ender’s Game is based – is an unwanted presence as the moment due to his unpopular views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. So much so, that his presence is non-existent.

Harrison FordHarrison Ford is set to further enforce his sci-fi legend status

They’ve removed him from all promotional aspects of the film, the social media and the controversial writer was nowhere to been seen during Comic Con 2013, where Harrison Ford and the impressive cast where talking about the upcoming sci fi movie. That didn’t stop the press hounding them about the issue though, to which Producer Roberto Orci offered up a succinct stance. “Rather than shy away from this, I would reiterate that we support LGBT rights, and human rights,” he said, according to Deadline.

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Scott-Card’s views have polarized the sci-fi fan base, so much so that the US activist group Geeks Out called for a boycott to the film. “Do not buy a ticket at the theatre, do not purchase the DVD, do not watch it on-demand. Ignore all merchandise and toys. However much you may have admired his books, keep your money out of Orson Scott Card's pockets," says the group on its "Skip Ender's Game" website. "By pledging to skip Ender's Game, we can send a clear and serious message to Card and those that do business with his brand of anti-gay activism – whatever he's selling, we're not buying. The queer geek community will not subsidise his fearmongering and religious bullying. We will not pay him to demean, insult and oppress us."

Asa Butterfield

Butterfield at Comic-Con 2013

People on the other end of the spectrum have argued that Scott-Card’s dated opinions have nothing to do with his art, despite it being difficult to argue the total disassociation of the two. The novel, written in 1977, sees Ender Wiggen attend Battle School to fight the third invasion from aliens known as Buggers. The film, also starring Asa Butterfield, is out in October.