Marvel’s Eternals banned in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait ahead of the planned release

Marvel’s planned theatrical release of Eternals in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar has hit a snag. The MCU movie will not be released in the Arab countries on November 11 as planned, reportedly due to Disney denying edit requests made by the countries’ local censors.

According to reports in The Hollywood Reporter, the sources claimed that the movie was pulled in the countries due to the presence of a gay relationship in the film.

The movie features Marvel’s first openly gay superhero, Phastos, and includes a scene where the hero shares an on-screen kiss with his husband. Disney had reportedly denied the local censors’ request for editing out the scene depicting the same-sex relationship.

Homosexuality continues to be a criminal offence in Gulf countries. This is not the first time that a film has been pulled from release in the Arab nations. In 2020, Pixar’s animated feature Onward had been banned in four Middle Eastern countries over a line that refers to a lesbian relationship.

Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao, Eternals chronicles the story of a race of immortal beings who arise to protect Earth in the face of a grave threat. Based on the comic book series of the same name by Marvel, the film features an ensemble cast including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie.

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The movie has been released in Indian theatres on November 5, 2021