Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie criticized the ban on screening her latest movie, Eternals, in several Islamic countries.
She called Muslim countries “Ignorant” over a band against Marvel Studios’ latest superhero movie because of characters in a same-sex relationship and their intimate scenes.
The movie will show the MCU’s first same-sex kiss between Phastos and Haaz Sleiman is in danger of not being screened in several Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
Previously local censors had submitted a request to Marvel Studios to cut the scenes out. However, the proposal has been rejected.
The refusal of the film censorship, which was scheduled to be screened in Middle Eastern countries on November 11, resulted in the distribution certificate being unable to be issued.
Jolie, who plays Thena Abadi in the film, also decided to speak out about the controversy. During a press roundtable, he called the situation sad and people who rejected same-sex relationships “ignorant.”
On the same occasion, Jolie also expressed her appreciation for Marvel’s move to refuse to cut the scenes.
Homosexuality is still illegal in many Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar. Censors often request that same-sex scenes be cut from movies before they are screened in those countries.
The gay character in “Eternals” is Marvel’s first gay superhero on the big screen, and there is a passionate kiss between the character and his husband.
In January, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that the company was already making a superhero film that included the first transgender superhero.
Eternals is the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, starring several prominent actors, from Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek to Kumai Nanjiani. Singer Harry Styles also appears in this film as a cameo playing the character of Thanos’ brother, Eros.
However, several articles reported that the ban against the movie might not solely be a same-sex kiss. Instead, these markets have historically had a problem with depicting gods and prophets, something they considered blasphemous.
