Film  

NFVCB Reportedly Bans Eternals From Cinemas

By Oreoritse Tariemi

08 November 2021   |   2:02 pm

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Nigeria has reportedly joined the list of countries to ban the screening of the new Marvel superhero film Eternals as the film slated to premiere over the weekend was yanked from cinema schedules.  Following the removal of Eternals from cinema schedules, it appears that Nigeria has joined the list of countries to ban the superhero film over a same-sex…

Eternals-Movie-Characters | Cbr

Nigeria has reportedly joined the list of countries to ban the screening of the new Marvel superhero film Eternals as the film slated to premiere over the weekend was yanked from cinema schedules. 

Following the removal of Eternals from cinema schedules, it appears that Nigeria has joined the list of countries to ban the superhero film over a same-sex kissing scene. The movie, which premiered on November 5th, was removed from nationwide screening schedules. 

In the controversial scene actors, Brian Tyree Henry and Haaz Sleiman share a passionate kiss.

This scene has sparked global controversy, with countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait banning the film after Disney reportedly refused to cut the scene.

While cinemas are yet to speak on the film’s removal, many people presume that the decision to remove Eternals’ from cinemas across the nation may have been due to the same-sex kissing scene.

In 2014, Nigeria banned same-sex relations by signing the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill (SSMPA), which also prohibits the airing of same-sex content in media. While this ban is not yet confirmed, the National Film Video Censors Board (NFVCB), maintains a zero-tolerance for gay content in Nigeria, and is yet to comment on the film’s probable ban.

In an interview, the film’s director Chloé Zhao shared that she hoped the film wouldn’t be banned anywhere globally to allow fans to enjoy the ‘full experience’.

‘The Eternals’ stars Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and Kit Harrington as leads portrays a new set of superheroes introduced to the Marvel Cinematic universe. It is also the first Marvel film to brandish same-sex relationships.

The film tells the tale of an immortal race of aliens who emerge from several millennia in hiding to save the Earth from the evil Deviants.