Although the Hollywood fantasy sci-fi film 'The Eternals' has been released in many countries around the world, including Pakistan, it has been banned in the Gulf countries for showing 'gay' couples.
According to the Hollywood Reporter's Showbiz website, The Eternals was scheduled to be released on November 11 in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, but the cinema authorities were prevented from showing the film there.
According to the report, movie posters are still available on movie websites in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and audiences are being told that the movie will be released soon, however in other Gulf countries.
The showbiz website quoted sources as saying that cinema authorities in other regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, had been barred from showing "Eternals".
According to the cinema owners, they have not been told by the management about the reason for banning the film, however, they have been instructed that the said film will not be shown.
According to Hollywood Reporters, the Gulf states may have banned the screening of the film if it showed a gay couple.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait have in the past banned films showing gay couples.
Homosexuality is considered a taboo subject in most Middle Eastern countries, including the Gulf countries, and there are penalties for such tendencies, while dramas and films that appeal to it are also not shown there.
On the other hand, Angelina Jolie, the actress of 'Eternals', while talking to the Australian broadcaster 'News.com', expressed her happiness that her film team refused to shoot homosexual scenes.
The report said that the Gulf countries had demanded that the film be released after removing the scenes of kissing between a gay couple, but the film team refused to comply.
In "Eternals", American black actor Brian Tyree Henry and Egyptian-born Hollywood Arab actor Haz Suleiman have played the role of a gay couple and both are seen kissing each other in the film.
In addition, for the first time in 'Eternals', the role of a deaf and dumb superhero woman has been given.
"The Eternals" is based on the story of superheroes with special abilities coming down to earth from another world, who are seen trying to save humanity by confronting the demons living here as soon as they land.
'The Eternals' is directed by Oscar-winning Asian filmmaker Chloe Xiao and stars Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kit Harrington, Gemma Chen, Richard Maiden, Bollywood comedian Harish Patel, Don Lee and Pakistani-born Hollywood actor Camille. Nanjiani has played a central role.
Kamil Nanjiani is the first Pakistani and South Asian actor to appear as a superhero in any Hollywood movie.
The film was released in Pakistan on November 5 this month, while in other countries including the United States it was released in early November and so far the film has earned more than 70 million US dollars.
