Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait have pulled a list-minute emergency brake on the release of Marvel’s newest film Eternals. The movie was scheduled for release in these three countries on November 11.
Marvel’s new superhero movie Eternals was scheduled to release worldwide this week. It already came out in most European countries on November 3rd and it is coming out in theaters today, November 5th in the US and Canada. Though it seems that three countries in the Persian Gulf are not going to let the film be viewed in theaters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the reason is the inclusion of the same-gender superhero couple Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and Ben (Haaz Sleiman). They are an officially wedded couple and as such share a romantic moment in which they kiss. Same-sex relationships whether official or not are still illegal in the three above-mentioned countries. Movies and shows have been banned in the past in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar even when homosexuality is not explicitly shown or mentioned. For example, Pixar Animation Studio’s Onward was never released in those countries because of one single line of dialogue briefly mentioning lesbian relationships.
No official reason has been given for the film’s ban. However, this injunction evidently falls in line with previous prohibitions that follow local rule of law.
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