Marvel’s Eternals features a lot of firsts, including the MCU’s first (PG-13) sex scene and first gay superhero. But these may have led several countries, including Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, to ban the latest Marvel movie ahead of its November 11 release date.
According to Variety, this appears to be a last-minute decision as the region has been promoting Eternals for the November release. But sources confirmed that Eternals will no longer be playing in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, though tickets are still available in the UAE.
Different regions will sometimes censor or alter movies for content that doesn’t fall in line with their local guidelines. In the case of several Arab nations, movies with sex, homosexuality, and possible religious issues, are cut to meet censorship rules.
According to Variety, Disney was unwilling to alter the movie to become compliant with local guidelines and has since been removed from their release schedules.
Eternals features Phastos, the first gay superhero in an MCU film. Played by Brian Tyree Henry, Phastos is seen living a domestic life with his husband and child when he’s recruited by the other Eternals to once again fend of the Deviants.
Other Marvel films like Black Widow and Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings have not been given release dates in key markets like China.
Check out IGN’s Eternals review for our take on the cosmic MCU adventure, or our Eternals explainer to help you get up to speed on Marvel's newest heroes before the movie premiers in North America this weekend.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.