Some Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman have banned Marvel’s latest blockbuster Eternals over censorship concerns. In response, Angelina Jolie, who played Thena in ‘Eternals’ expressed her displeasure with the ban and thanked Marvel for not censoring gay scenes.
In response to Marvel’s refusal to censor gay scenes despite requests from countries, Jolie in an interview stated that she is “proud” of the franchise for refusing to do so while she is “sad” for the audiences who wanted to see the film in those locations.
“I still don’t understand how we live in a world today where there are still people who would not see the family Phastos has and the beauty of that relationship and that love,” Jolie stated. In addition, Jolie further said that “How anybody is angry about it, threatened by it, doesn’t approve or appreciate it is ignorant.”
For those unversed, it is recently reported that censorship had prevented Eternals from receiving a theatrical release in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. According to the reports, Disney refused to modify the intimate scenes between LGBTQ+ characters. The same-sex kiss scene may not have been the only reason for the film’s suspension in these nations, according to Deadline, as the film may also have been banned due to difficulties with fictitious depictions of deities and prophets.
The film “Eternals,” directed by Chloe Zhao, tells the story of ten immortals who are fighting the Deviants. Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) is in a same-sex marriage with Haaz Sleiman in the film. It is Marvel’s first starring gay character.