*SPOILER ALERT*
The highly anticipated release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has hit a roadblock in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the film failed to meet the country’s censorship requirements. The UAE’s censorship board recently announced the ban, just a week before the scheduled release date in the region.
Variety reported that one of the key concerns raised by the censorship board was a poster in the background of a scene. The poster depicted the transgender flag and carried the message “Protect Trans Lives.” This depiction prompted the board to prohibit the release of Across the Spider-Verse, which was initially slated for June 22.
This is not the first time the UAE has banned a movie from being released. Last year, Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear faced a similar fate in several Middle Eastern countries due to a scene featuring a same-sex kiss between two characters. Marvel’s Eternals and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also met the same fate due to comparable reasons.
One of the significant character arcs in Across the Spider-Verse revolves around Gwen Stacy. This particular storyline has captured the attention of audiences, leading to an unexpected theory among fans. Some speculate that if Gwen Stacy is not explicitly portrayed as transgender, her journey resonates with the experiences of many trans viewers.
While there is no explicit confirmation or denial of Gwen’s transgender identity in the film’s dialogue, fans have drawn parallels between her story and the narrative of a trans journey. They have also noted the presence of scenes in the second chapter of the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga that features the colors associated with the trans-Pride flag.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse pushed boundaries with its ambitious use of six distinct animation styles, bringing the multiverse and its myriad of Spider-people to life. The film’s attention to detail, including its cliffhanger ending, has been a topic of discussion among enthusiasts.