Marvel Studios’ ‘Eternals’ has been banned from cinemas nationwide

#SayNoToCensorship

This week, Marvel’s Cinematic Universe was poised to release its latest film ‘Eternals’ in cinemas around the world. However, its release week was not without its complications as the film stoked polarising conversations for its eventual ban in the Gulf region countries, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As the latest inclusion to the world of Marvel makes its way around local markets and industries, it seems that the Gulf region which has now pulled the film from its cinemas is not the only area with issues surrounding the film. Reports are now reaching that ‘Eternals’ has also been pulled from cinemas in Nigeria where homosexuality is still a crime.

 

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The reason for the ban? According to Cinema Pointer, Nigeria’s National Film & Video Censors Board, under the leadership of Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, the country has now joined other countries around the world to ban or suspend Marvel’ Eternals’ due to its portrayal of homosexual couples. According to reports, the film will be banned because it depicts a ‘gruesomely irresponsible inclusion of a homosexual mouth-to-mouth kiss scene,’ states Cinema Reporter.

Director Chloe Zhao, who won the Oscar for best director earlier this year for Nomadland, spoke recently about her desire to not tweak any scenes to appease censors.

“I don’t know all the details, but I do believe discussions were had and there’s a big desire from Marvel and myself – we talked about this – to not change the cut of the movie,” she said to Indiewire. “Fingers crossed.”

While this is the first openly gay superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a cause for celebration and progress, the moment has instead been marred by discussions of the film’s suspension and ban across cinemas nationwide due to the homophobia ingrained in these countries.

Currently, homosexuality remains a crime punishable by a prison term of up to 14 years in Nigeria, as provided by the Same-Sex (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA). It is yet to be determined whether the ban will be lifted, however, the film has currently been pulled out from cinema film line-ups nationwide.

This post will be regularly revised with updates. 

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