It looks like the spider-verse is not headed to the Gulf this time around, and Marvel enthusiasts are *crushed*.
A glitch in the Spider-Man multiverse…
The film in question, Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse, is the ~middle child~ of the Miles Morales trilogy and a sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse which was released in 2018. Its predecessor was an absolute blockbuster, grossing a whopping $377 million dollars worldwide and receiving great critical acclaim. Naturally, ~Marvel connoisseurs~ in the UAE and Saudi Arabia were eagerly waiting for the film’s release date (June 22), which is just days before the Eid Al Adha holiday.
The Marvel junkies’ excitement swiftly turned into intense disappointment – alas, local theaters (namely Vox Cinemas) confirmed that the film would no longer see the light of day in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. But what went wrong ??
According to a report by Esquire Middle East, the film reportedly did not pass the censorship requirements in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Fans have also speculated that one of the film’s scenes *in particular* is reportedly to blame for the ban (and no, we’re not giving you any spoilers). FYI – The Media Regulatory Office, aka the government entity that regulates media activities in the UAE, forbids material that is “contrary to religious and ethical values of the UAE.”
Marvel fans, do not despair. I mean, there’s no shortage of Marvel goodness out there, whether past or future! We can always look forward to the third film in the Miles Morales trilogy, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, scheduled for release in March 2024.
Third time’s a charm!