‘Spider-Verse’ sequel banned in Saudi Arabia, UAE due to trans flag, says report.
Marvel’s “Spider-Verse” Sequel Faces Ban in Middle East
The highly-anticipated sequel to Marvel’s “Spider-Verse” has been banned from release in theaters across the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. The reason behind the ban is reportedly the inclusion of a “Protect Trans Kids” poster seen in the film.
The film, titled “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” was originally scheduled to hit theaters in the region on June 22. However, it failed to meet the censorship requirements and was consequently barred from release, according to Esquire Middle East.
Speculation on social media prompted inquiries to local exhibitors, particularly Vox Cinemas, the leading theatrical firm in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Reportedly, they confirmed that the film would not be released.
Spider-Man: Across The SpiderVerse has been banned across the Middle East, because of a ‘protect trans kids‘ flag that appears in the film. pic.twitter.com/FVDySUBlYJ
— Cinema Brainiac (@CinemaBrainiac) June 15, 2023
In the Middle East, films targeted at children must adhere to specific guidelines that align with local customs and values.
While an official reason for the ban has not been provided, Gay Times reported that it is believed to be due to the presence of a pro-Trans kids flag displayed in the room of one of the fictional characters, Gwen Stacy.
The previous installment, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” had a successful run in the region from 2018 to early 2019. However, it did not contain any explicit references to transgender kids or the LGBTQ+ community.
This ban follows a similar fate faced by Disney’s Pixar film, “Lightyear,” in 2022. The movie, which included an LGBTQ love storyline and a kiss between two female characters, was also shelved and never released. The ban was attributed to the film’s violation of the country’s media content standards, as previously reported.
Homosexual content has been a reason for movie bans in the Middle East before. In April 2022, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was denied a theatrical release due to the inclusion of a gay character, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.
(Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for kids’ entertainment content.)
Related: Did Sony Make Gwen Stacy Trans In New ‘Spider-Man’ Film?
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