Yesterday the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest collection of heroes, the Eternals, hit the big screen. The galactic protectors showed off how they looked after and nurtured humanity over centuries – but it seems the favour has not been returned. This week it was announced Eternals would not be showing in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait as it involves a scene with two men kissing.
Jolie has condemned the decision to axe Eternals’ run in these countries.
She said: “I still don’t understand how we live in a world today where there’s still [people who] would not see the family Phastos has and the beauty of that relationship and that love.
“How anybody is angry about it, threatened by it, doesn’t approve or appreciate it is ignorant.” (Via news.com.au)
The 46-year-old also said she was “sad for the audiences” of the countries that have had the movie banned.
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Jolie later said she was “proud of Marvel for refusing to cut those scenes out”.
This is the first time the American star has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and she is doing it in good company.
She is joined by the likes of Salma Hayek, Richard Madden and Kit Harington.
Although Eternals has been axed from these countries, it seems as if they would be granted screening privileges if the gay kissing scenes were removed.
But Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao has said this will not be happening.
She explained: “I don’t know all the details, but I do believe discussions were had and there’s a big desire for Marvel and myself – we talked about this – to not change the cut of the movie. Fingers crossed.” (Via Indiewire)
The gay character in question, Phastos, is played by Brian Tyree Henry.
Although the character is an Eternal, he has settled down with a human husband named Ben (Haaz Sleiman).
The pair since went on to adopt a son together.
This is not the first time Marvel has included an LGBTQ+ character, but it is the first time it has been included so prominently.
This isn’t the first time a Disney movie has been banned in a Middle-Eastern country.
Last year the Disney Pixar film Onward was banned in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.
The animated adventure movie was banned for a line of dialogue that referenced a lesbian relationship.
Eternals is the first film in the MCU to continue the plot of the ever-expanding narrative since Spider-Man: Far From Home.
The next film to do so is Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is due out next month.
Eternals is in cinemas now.
SOURCE / SOURCE