ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 24: (L-R) Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee, Angelina Jolie, and Barry Keoghan of ‘The Eternals’ took part today in the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2019 in Anaheim, Calif. ‘The Eternals’ will be released in U.S. theaters on November 6, 2020. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 11:19 AM PT – Friday, November 5, 2021
Marvel’s newest film is facing backlash in certain countries. The upcoming film “Eternals” will not be playing in Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Kuwait according to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the country’s Infocomm Media Development Authority confirmed the film had been “banned” due to “homosexual references.” Marvel’s parent company, Disney, refused to cut scenes featuring a gay relationship at the countries’ request.
This is a frequent issue among Middle East countries, where a series of films have been pulled from release. In many Islamic societies, homosexuality is viewed as a crime and often punishable by death.
💫 The time is NOW. 💫 Experience Marvel Studios’ #Eternals only in theaters NOW PLAYING! Get tickets: https://t.co/zCpW4dVkUR pic.twitter.com/KCRkAH9OyV
— Eternals (@TheEternals) November 5, 2021
The film was originally set to premiere in the Persian Gulf region Nov. 11. It reportedly cost $200 million to make.
Meanwhile, the film is still being advertised for release in the United Arab Emirates.
