“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” will not be released in the United Arab Emirates after failing to pass the country’s censorship requirements, Variety has confirmed. A scene featuring a poster in the background of the frame that depicts the transgender flag and reads “Protect Trans Lives” is said to be one of the concerns that prevented a release from being approved, sources said.
The United Arab Emirates ban comes only a week ahead of the Sony Pictures film’s intended release date in the region of June 22. However, it isn’t uncommon for the country’s censorship board to axe the imminent release of films featuring LGBTQ+ content. Another animated film faced a similar predicament last summer, when Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” was not released in the country due to a scene depicting a same-sex kiss between two lesbian space rangers. The “Toy Story” spinoff was also banned from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Malaysia.
The censorship board’s decision regarding “Across the Spider-Verse” also represents a swerve after the film’s 2018 predecessor, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” did see a local release, grossing $1.7 million in the territory. It remains unclear whether “Across the Spider-Verse” will receive a release in Saudi Arabia, though the country’s censorship requirements often align with those of the United Arab Emirates.
Along with its presentation of a “Protect Trans Lives” poster, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has also drawn attention for how it explores the arc of Gwen Stacy (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), who some viewers have interpreted as a trans-coded character. In the film, Stacy conceals the secret of her true identity from her father. Scenes set in the character’s dimension also prominently feature the colors of the transgender flag. However, Stacy is not explicitly identified as transgender in the film.
