Eternals: Marvel ditches Saudi Arabia, Kuwait release; refuses to censor gay kiss and LGBTQ scenes in superhero movie

Marvel's 'Eternals', which features the first MCU gay superhero, Phastos, has been banned in Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries ahead of its planned November 11 rollout across the Gulf region.
Actor Haaz Sleiman, who came out as gay in 2017, plays the character Ben in 'Eternals'. He is the husband of Phastos, played by Brian Tyree Henry. Phastos, in the movie, is in a long-time relationship with another man on Earth, but is forced to leave his partner to rejoin the Eternals to take on the Deviants.
The Direct, an entertainment news website, has reported how review-bombers are inundating the 'Eternals' page on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) over the film's inclusion of LGBTQ characters and a kiss between the characters Ben and Phastos.

Sources, meanwhile, confirmed to 'Variety' that despite the film being publicised across the Gulf region on the websites of local multiplex chains, such as top local exhibitor Vox Cinemas, 'Eternals' won't be playing in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Tickets for the movie, however, are available for purchase at Vox cinemas in the UAE.

The report further states that in the Arab world, movies concerning or containing sex, homosexuality and religious issues are routinely cut so that they conform to censorship rules. But in this case, it appears that Disney was either unwilling or, more likely, unable to do that.
The film directed by Oscar-winner Chloe Zhao of 'Nomadland' fame, features an ensemble cast including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Don Lee, Lauren Ridloff, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Barry Keoghan and Kit Harington.

The 25th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), 'Eternals' introduces the audience to 10 immortal superheroes. The Eternals are an alien race with superhuman powers living on Earth in secret and helping shape the course of human civilization for over 7,000 years. They are forced out of the shadows to protect mankind from their evil counterparts- the Deviants.
The film hits Indian theatres today, November 5.