‘Eternals’ Banned in the Middle East Over Gay Couple

Eternals will no longer premiere in select countries in the Middle East after Disney refused to censor the franchise’s first gay couple. The latest Marvel movie was supposed to hit theaters in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar on November 11. As it turns out, the United Arab Emirates is the only country in the Gulf region where Eternals is still listed.

Reports suggest Eternals has been banned in Saudi Arabia and some other Middle Eastern countries, likely due to it featuring the MCU’s first openly gay super-powered character, Phastos. It appears Disney has opted not to censor scenes featuring the character and his family. pic.twitter.com/b4egxcXT2Z

— IGN (@IGN) November 4, 2021

Eternals features the MCU’s first gay superhero. There is reportedly a scene in which Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) shares a “passionate kiss” with husband Ben (Haaz Sleiman).

It’s a win for LGBTQ+ representation on-screen, but such portrayals are not accepted in many Gulf countries. In fact, homosexuality is illegal in the aforementioned countries, where many films are pulled for the same reason. Similarly, Pixar’s Onward was banned in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia due to a single line referring to a lesbian relationship.

These censorship demands are nothing new within the Middle East. Two years ago, a same-sex kiss was edited out of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker before its release in the United Arab Emirates. Other films like Brokeback Mountain, Carol and Freeheld also have a history of being banned in the region.

Disney finally getting a W

— Ashu (@ashucomics) November 4, 2021

Honestly I see Eternals’ ban in certain countries as a victory, because it means they didn’t budge. They didn’t say “sure, we’ll take this out” or “sure, we’ll make it small enough to edit out in certain countries”. They made a queer couple that matters and refused to delete it.

— 🦴 script.bone 🦴 (@ScriptSlasher) November 4, 2021

Disney has yet to respond over the ban. But the company stood its ground when urged to edit out the kiss. Eternals director Chloé Zhao anticipated backlash over Marvel’s first gay superhero, though. She wanted to “show two people who love each other, not just emotionally and intellectually but also physically,” according to an interview with IndieWire.

“To position that family in that specific situation and to have that moment feel authentic and real…the audience has to feel that to care,” Zhao told IndieWire. “Otherwise, there’s no point in putting that onscreen because they don’t feel it.”

TONIGHT, it’s time to meet the Eternals! See Lauren Ridloff introduce Marvel Studios’ #Eternals speaking American Sign Language and experience the film only in theaters! Get Tickets Now: https://t.co/RilTsyZ1Ih pic.twitter.com/3H4TARvOUC

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) November 4, 2021

Between leaked credits (ahem, Harry Styles) and a star-studded two weeks of red carpet events, Eternals is shaping up to be a big hit. Ring in Phase Four of the MCU and get your tickets for November 5.