There was always a chance of this happening given some of the LGBTQ+ content in Marvel's Eternals, and THR has now confirmed that the movie will not release in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
The latest Phase 4 adventure was set to open across the Gulf region on November 11, but several locations have now pulled the film from theaters. Apparently, a series of edit requests were made by the local censors which Disney refused to agree to. The cuts in question were not specified, but were almost certainly relating to scenes with Brian Tyree Henry's Phastos, who shares a kiss with his husband at one point.
Homosexuality is still officially illegal across the Gulf, and while Eternals hasn't been "banned" outright just yet, it's probably only a matter of time.
There was a time when Disney might have acquiesced to these edit request, so this is certainly a commendable course of action. Director Chloe Zhao has indicated in the past that she would rather the movie not screen at all than remove certain scenes, and has clearly stuck to her guns.
Marvel Studios’ Eternals follows a group of heroes from beyond the stars who had protected the Earth since the dawn of man. When monstrous creatures called the Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, the Eternals are forced to reunite in order to defend humanity once again.
The outstanding ensemble cast includes Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, with Kit Harington as Dane Whitman, with Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena.
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