While not officially revealed, sources indicate that the reason isalmost certainly due to the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ charactersin the filmin this case being Brian Tyree Henry's Phastos and his husband. When the decision was made to make one of the Eternals gay, this was likely discussed internally back then, and the decision was made to do it anyway. A particular pressure point for many overseas countries, including China and Russia, has been the LGBTQIA+ relationship between the Eternal Phastos and his loving husband, with whom he shares a child. US City Takes Stand Against Caste Discrimination Despite Opposition from Hindu Nationalists, Mohammad Hasnain Overshadows Peshawar Zalmis Victory. In 2020, Onward, the Pixar title created hype when it got banned in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Sleiman, who is of Lebanese origin, is also openly gay. You will receive a verification email shortly. In the movie, Phastos shares a kiss with his husband Ben (Haaz Sleiman), there are several references to their marriage, and we see them in domestic life raising their son. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Lia McHugh, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Gil Birmingham, Harish Patel, and Kit Harington also star. Jolie was surprised to see how can someone be so threatened, angry, or against something so beautiful like love. Upon the news about Eternals getting banned in multiple Arab countries, some Hollywood celebrities spoke about it. Portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry, Phastos is a superhero who appears in Eternals and is married to Ben who is depicted by Haaz Sleiman. 'Eternals' to release on Nov 5; How and where to watch Angelina Jolie-starrer online? Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. And then they can give their two middle fingers to their governments. However, Disney opted not to make the dits resulting indistribution certificates not being issued. Several nations have apparently decided not release Eternals. Back in May 2017, Warner Bros. Wonder Woman was officially banned in Lebanon. The UK has long been a challenging and expensive market in which to release independent movies and we hear the asking price was considered too steep by the small pool of viable indie distributors in the territory. The UAE announced six months ago that it would do away with film censorship and instead introduce a 21+ rating. Sources suggest the decision was likely made over the inclusion of a same-gender couple in the film and the MCUs first gay superhero. However, in this case it seems Disney/Marvel was apparently unwilling to do so. The film also has an MCU low of a Rotten 51% Rotten Tomatoes score. Post by Mark. In 2021, Marvel released The Eternals, which featured Phastos, a gay, married man, and his husband. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Upon the news about Eternals getting banned in multiple Arab countries, some Hollywood celebrities spoke about it. The newspaper didnt give any reason for the ban but its most likely because of the character Phastos who is the first openly gay hero. They are basically saying no to moneyallowing entire countries and regions to ban the film,an almost unheard-of move when it comes to big corporations. Sleiman said that he doesnt support or respect the governments with a mindset negating LGBT and that these authorities have showcased how they are just a disgrace to both humanity and God. "Eternals"arrives in U.S. theaters on November 5, 2021. The Eternal Phastos has a husband and children. Angelina Jolie reacted to the news that her new Marvel movie, Etertnals, has been banned by several countries in the Middle East over the portrayal of gay couple. The film is still expected to come out inthe United Arab Emirates. The reason: depicting a same-sex relationship. Created by entities called Celestials, they were tasked with protecting the earth from the Deviants, their misshapen and evil counterparts. "Fingers crossed.". Eternals is banned from theaters in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Qatar because of the movies gay elements. I never thought I would see that, let alone that I got to do it., Sleiman is also confident that Eternals will be seen, even in countries where its banned. Its global box office take is now a much more interesting question following news that the movie has been pulled from theaters in several countries in the Middle East, apparently due to the films content including an openly gay character. The news emerged on Thursday, with Eternals having quietly been removed from websites in each of those countries. The publication was told by sources that the gay relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie may have been the reason. But the studio removed a same-sex kiss between characters in"Star Wars:The Rise of Skywalker" to appease some international censors. Although the film was scheduled to be released on November 11, neither the studio northe local territories have officially provided areason for cancelling the release. For additional context, for nations in the Gulf,homosexuality is stillillegal. Its been a while since a movie has been banned in Kuwait but according to Al Jarida newspaper, the Marvel Studios film Eternals has been banned in Kuwait. Why is MrBeast Facing Backlash over Blindness Treatment Video? Hopefully this will inspire the Saudi people, the Kuwaiti people and the people in Qatar to fight back.. The good news for UK cinema-goers is that A24 itself will release the film this month. Only time will tell. IMAX, one of the largest movie exhibitors in Egypt, shocked moviegoers on Nov. 9 by canceling the premiere of the movie "Eternals" one day before it was scheduled for nationwide release.. Ahmed Kalal, director of the development engineering department at Misr International Films, which owns IMAX theaters in Egypt, told Al-Monitor that the We have reached out to A24 and Saudi Arabias General Commission for Audiovisual Media for comment. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Get the scoops first! Current box office estimates for Eternalsthis weekend offer anywhere from $67 million to $92 million, with Deadlines estimates offering $75 million. All rights reserved. The publication was told by sources that the gay relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie may have been the reason. With Diwali, one of the biggest festivals of India, coinciding with the release, netizens are expected to flock to the theatres to enjoy the super-gods films featuring some of the biggest stars of Hollywood. Movie studios, and Disney specifically have dealt with this before and they likely expected this sort of pushback. MCU As a result, the movie was removed from the websites and platforms in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. Wonder Womanwas also banned in Tunisia. In Kuwait and Qatar, its claimed the issue wasnt the homosexual scenes, but that the region has historically had a problem with the depiction of gods and prophets, something they consider blasphemous., RELATED:Deadpool 3: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Get Jacked. In the film, Stephanie Hsus character Joy is openly gay and there is a scene in which MichelleYeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis play a lesbian couple. Upon the news about Eternals getting banned in multiple Arab countries, some Hollywood celebrities spoke about it. 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These fantastic milestones, however, haven'tbeen embraced by everyone around the world. According to reports, Disney is looking forward to releasing the film without the intimate scenes in Arab countries. Angelina Jolie reacted to the news that her new Marvel movie, Etertnals, has been banned by several countries in the Middle East over the portrayal of gay couple. However, it looks like the MCU venture will be missing out on major markets in the Middle East as some countries have decided not to release the movie at the box office. In 2020, Onward, the Pixar title created hype when it got banned in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. As per her view, the gay actors portrayed a good life and a healthy relationship that shouldnt have caused trouble for anyone. Epcot Stan. If any particular country or region is scared of whatEternalshas to show the world, then they're only calling themselves out for the rest of the world to see. Home Movie News Eternals Box Office Blow: Banned In Middle East, Likely China. Eternals looks to suffer another box office blow as it is reported countries in the Middle East are either banning the film completely or screening an edited cut, which also follows it previously reported that the flick likely wont play in China, the number two market in the world. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The streaming platform has been gaining much attention due to its latest projects that include certain Disney plus series and movies. Marvel's Eternals will reportedly be banned from release in certain countries - a list which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. Last year, Disney/Pixar's "Onward"was banned in the countries of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia because of a single line that alluded to a lesbian relationship. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. One of the Hollywood stars, Haaz Sleiman who also happens to be the gay superhero in the Marvel movie Eternals slammed the Arab nations. Therefore, the OTT platform is considering a revised version of the Marvel movie Eternals. 'Eternals' To Not Release In Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain And Oman; Here's Why Touted as one of the biggest MCU films, Chlo Zhao directed super-god film Eternals has been banned from releasing in some of the major Middle Eastern countries Written By Princia Hendriques Image: Instagram/@MarvelStudios Marvel Studios Eternals was banned from cinemas in the Gulf, a response likely given due to the inclusion of a same-sex couple. All Rights Reserved. We know how the game of breaking news is actually played. ' Eternals ' didn't make it to box-offices in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. While China hasnt officially banned Eternals, Black Widow, and Shang-Chi, the fact none of the movies have release dates says it all, which has to do with controversial comments from some of the cast members, including Eternals Chinese-born director Chloe Zhao making comments about how there are lies everywhere in China which also saw her Oscar Award-winning Nomadland not get released in the Middle Kingdom. Sources suggest the inclusion of the MCU's first same-gender couple is causing issues in the Gulf. Marvel Studios' "Eternals" will not play in theaters in the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Qatar. Haaz Sleiman says he was close to tears when he learned of Disneys response to Eternals being banned in several Middle Eastern countries because of the MCU films LGBTQ+ content. The only Middle Eastern company listed is the United Arab Emirates where the country brought in close to $12.8 million for The Avengers: Endgame and almost $3.4 million for Shang-Chi, but the United Arab Emirates is showing Eternals. All Rights Reserved. As per the report, censors soughtfurther cuts beyond any scenes of intimacy inSaudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. (Photo: Marvel Studios), Peter Pan and Wendy first trailer: Jude Laws nefarious Captain Hook wont let the Darling siblings bask in the magic of Neverland, Spider-Man India to be voiced by Deadpool actor Karan Soni in Across the Spider-Verse, Selena Gomez regrets losing touch with her Disney family after Wizards of Waverly Place ended, Get a monthy Indian Express digital subscription, Eternals actor Lauren Ridloff on turning into superhero Makkari: At that moment, it started to feel so real, Tom Sizemores family deciding end of life matters. Phastos kisses his husband Ben in the movies. Is Sushant Singh Rajpoot a Victim of Murder Instead of Suicide? Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Its not like this was unexpected. Disney held firm on that movie and refused to censor it, so hopefully this is proof that the studio is entering a new era in which it supports its filmmakers' visions and won't compromise its movies to achieve the widest possible appeal. The latter is hosting the World Cup later this year. Sleiman, who is of Lebanese origin, is also openly gay. Post by Mark. The cosmic epic has been hyped up by those involved for a long time now, so it's weird to think that it's actually almost time to watch it. The outlet also releases a set of factors that could have contributed to the theatrical ban of Eternals in these Middle East countries. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness is playing in the country but has been banned in Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. In recent years, the company has been taking the tiniest steps beyond that archaic restriction, featuring an "exclusively gay moment"in "Beauty and the Beast"and a reference to a gay relationship in "Avengers: Endgame.". Directed by Chlo Zhao, Eternals stars 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. The Eternal Phastos has a husband and children. Can you imagine how many lives this is going to be saving kids, young queer folk, who are being bullied, committing suicide and not seeing themselves being represented? HoursTV.com is in the business of keeping its readers happy. By Kofi Outlaw - November 4, 2021 11:57 am EDT. Director Chloe Zhao was part of conversations about this very topic, and she, at the time, was hopeful that edits would not be made, and now it appears Marvel is backing her up. In the Chlo Zhao-directed movie, Sleiman plays Ben, the husband of Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry). Portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry, Phastos is a superhero who appears in Eternals and is married to Ben who is depicted by Haaz Sleiman. For decades, Disney has positioned itself as Hollywood's most family-friendly major studio which traditionally has meant avoiding same-sex relationships on screen altogether. The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. According to THR, While Eternals was expected to hit screens throughout the Middle East beginning November 11, the movie has now been pulled from exhibition in the nations of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. 'Eternals' To Not Release In Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain And Oman; Here's Why Touted as one of the biggest MCU films, Chlo Zhao directed super-god film Eternals has been banned from releasing in some of the major Middle Eastern countries Written By Princia Hendriques Image: Instagram/@MarvelStudios That subplot is arguably one of the movie's biggest emotional cruxes of the film, so removing it would severely hurt the overall storytelling. Angelina Jolie reacted to the news that her new Marvel movie, Etertnals, has been banned by several countries in the Middle East over the portrayal of gay couple. The issue, we hear, may not solely be the same-sex kiss, but rather that overall these markets have historically had a problem with the depiction of gods and prophets, something they consider blasphemous. That moment shows the love between me and Phastos and its a statement on its own that you hear someone speak like that, he said. Not only is Phastos the MCUs first gay superhero, but he and Ben are married and fathers to a young son. Disney's stance on this issue shows that the studio has supported director Chlo Zhao, who was hopeful that the relationship would not be censored when she spoke to Indiewire last month. Rahul Gandhi now appears on rally posters in Bihar post criticism, Bihar rally clash: Amit Shah, Nitish-Tejashwi duo to demonstrate political strength today, 'Eternals' to not release in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman; Here's why, 'Eternals': Here are the Bollywood references made in upcoming Marvel movie, New 'Eternals' clip 'Bollywood' disappoints Indian fans for stereotypical content. Haaz Sleiman says he was close to tears when he learned of Disneys response to Eternals being banned in several Middle Eastern countries because of the MCU films LGBTQ+ content. In the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt we understand that a version of the film will be released that removes all scenes of intimacy be they heterosexual or homosexual. Eternals looks to suffer another box office blow as it is reported countries in the Middle East are either banning the film completely or screening an edited cut, which also follows it previously reported that the flick likely wont play in China, the number two market in the world. The critical consensus reads, An ambitious superhero epic that soars as often as it strains, Eternals takes the MCU in intriguing and occasionally confounding new directions., Jack Ma, Trump and Xi: How Chinese billionaire flew close to the sun, Copyright 2023 The Indian Express [P] Ltd. All Rights Reserved. One regional cinema explained to the site that Eternalshad been "banned" but was not told why. 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