The Nigerian National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) under the leadership of Alhaji Adedayo Thomas has barred cinemas across the country from showing the latest Marvel superhero movie, “Eternals.
While the NFVCB did not immediately state the reason for the ban in the circular distributed to cinema operators, it is speculated to be because of the film’s depiction of a homosexual couple.
Nigeria has joined other Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar to ban the screening of Eternals in their theatres likely because of the inclusion of a gay Brian Tyree Henry superhero and his husband Haaz Sleiman shared a kiss in one of the scenes in the movie.
The “Eternals” gay couple are the first openly gay characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and their inclusion has been praised by film critics.
The Eternals' starring Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and Kit Harrington portrays a new set of superheroes introduced to the Marvel Cinematic universe. It will be the first Marvel film to brandish same sex relationship.