KUWAIT: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will not be released in UAE, Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, according to a report by Esquire Middle East. The movie, a sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, was supposed to release in cinemas in the Middle East during the Eid Al-Adha holiday, but reports now indicate that it will no longer have a theatrical run in the region.
In Kuwait, the movie was pulled from the Cinescape schedule. And while it remains listed on the local VOX Cinemas schedule, the Esquire Middle East report indicates that Vox Cinemas have already received word that the movie will not be releasing in UAE and Saudi Arabia, which means that the movie will likely be pulled from VOX Kuwait's schedule soon. Cinescape, Kuwait’s national cinema company, could not be reached for comment.
On the reason behind the decision, the report quotes sources who said that the film did not pass censorship requirements. This news follow days of speculation that the movie won't be released in regional theaters because of an LGBTQ+ flag that appears briefly in one of the scenes.
Saudi Cinema had reported on Tuesday that the movie will not hit screens in the Kingdom. "Out of our keenness on the safety of the content shown in cinemas, and our responsibility towards the viewers, we would like to point out that we will not permit or license any film that contradicts the content controls in force in the media system… and its implementing regulations, unless the production companies commit to implementing the required amendments,” it said in a statement on social media.