Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Banned in United Arab Emirates

The highly acclaimed film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, has faced a ban in the United Arab Emirates, according to a report from Variety. The exact reason for the ban remains unclear, but sources suggest that it may be partly attributed to the presence of a “Protect Trans Lives” banner in the bedroom of Gwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen, portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld. This development comes just a week before the film was scheduled to be screened in the country.

It is worth noting that this is not the first animated film to be banned in the United Arab Emirates in recent times. Pixar’s Lightyear also faced a ban due to the inclusion of a same-sex kiss.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse follows the return of Miles Morales, voiced by Shamiek Moore, to the big screen. He joins forces with fellow heroes Spider-Gwen, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, and Peter B. Parker, voiced by Jake Johnson, for another thrilling adventure across the multiverse. This time, they find themselves in conflict with the Spider-Society led by Spider-Man 2099, voiced by Oscar Isaac. The film introduces new heroes such as Spider-Woman Jessica Drew, voiced by Issa Rae, Spider-Punk, voiced by Daniel Kaluuya, and Pavitr Prabhakar, voiced by Karan Soni. Additionally, a new villain named the Spot, voiced by Jason Schwartzman, enters the fray. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a sequel to Sony Pictures’ successful 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The screenplay is written by Chris Miller, Phil Lord, and Dave Callaham.

The decision to divide the film into two parts was made to allow the story to unfold more effectively and provide breathing room for the various arcs. The filmmakers initially planned for a two-and-a-half-hour movie with intense and fast-paced storytelling akin to Endgame. However, they realized that spreading it across two films would offer a better opportunity to set up and resolve storylines. The exact direction of the narrative remains uncertain, and audiences will have to wait to see how it unfolds in the subsequent movies.

The ban of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in the United Arab Emirates raises questions and invites opinions from fans. The film is currently playing exclusively in theaters.

Micajah

Covering superheroes, anything dark, horror, and more! Lead writer for Fan Fest