Why has “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” been banned from release in the UAE and Saudi Arabia? Learn all there is to know.
The highly-acclaimed global hit animated film “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has been pulled (banned) from the release schedule in UAE, Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, and will no longer have a theatrical run in the region – courtesy of a transgender flag shown in the background in one of its scenes.
The film, a sequel to the 2018 film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” which introduced Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as a new Spider-Man who teams up with alternate universe versions of the character, was scheduled to debut on June 22 across the territory ahead of the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday.
It has been confirmed by sources that the film did not pass censorship requirements and thus will not see a release. Internationally, Across The Spider-Verse, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson from a script by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham for Sony, is one of the most well-received superhero films in history, sitting currently at a 9.1 rating on IMDb with over 110,000 votes, and a 96% ‘Certified Fresh’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The previous film had a successful run in regional theaters from 2018 to early 2019. The planned sequel, set for 2024, is still scheduled for a regional theatrical debut. The official news comes from days of speculation on Reddit and social media, in which numerous parties had contacted local exhibitors, namely Vox Cinemas, the leading theatrical firm in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and received word that the film was not releasing.
What are the censorship guidelines in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
The censorship guidelines mention that to be released, a film must adhere to local customs and values.
While it was widely reported in 2021 that censorship had ended in the UAE, with a quote from a government agency saying “the movies will be screened in cinemas according to their international version,” as reported by the AP, this is not strictly the case.
There are still guidelines that international and local content must adhere to according to local customs and values, particularly pertaining to films geared towards children, which animated films are nearly always classified as.
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