Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse banned in UAE
The United Arab Emirates has effectively banned Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse for containing a specific detail that many viewers may have never even noticed. It seems likely that this is connected to comments about a potential detail surrounding Gwen in the film about which fans have been speculating regarding her possible status as a transgender-coded character. While Gwen is never explicitly confirmed as trans, it’s not outlandish to assume that the film’s creators were intentional about these themes, given the emotional and relatable personal story arcs that Gwen goes through. But, apparently, it’s a bridge too far for the folks in the UAE, who are keeping their citizens from enjoying the film properly because of it.
Across the Spider-Verse has seen a number of Spider-Man films banned in various regions due to use of the Spider-Man name without permission from Marvel. This appears to be a true ban, however, as it’s specifically referencing the film by name. Both Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are tightly-made films with every detail accounted for, so this seems like an unlikely misstep. That leaves only one other possibility – the use of the trans flag colors in certain scenes.
Using these colors isn’t unreasonable; they’re used frequently to pay homage to LGBTQ+ history and in support of the community. But these colors are apparently too much for the UAE, a nation that, very publicly, has previously banned films for innocuous depictions of these themes. If a film uses a single transgender flag as an accent, that’s enough to stoke fears and keep it out of the country.
Verge reviewer Alaina redistanced herself following the publication of her Gwen Stacy review, and many trans fans picked up on some themes in her back story that informed the character’s design and demeanor. These personal story arcs resonated with trans viewers, and it’s not too much to wonder if that was at least partly intentional from the filmmakers. We’ll likely never know for sure, but it’s definitely not outlandish to think that it was.
Adding further fuel to the fire, the use of these colors in certain scenes further stokes the Across the Spider-Verse trans flag speculation. In conjunction with the fact that both films are filmed extensively in the flag’s corresponding colors, it’s a solid thematic and visual connection.
It’s a genuine shame that the folks in the UAE won’t get to enjoy the film’s genuinely good time. For anyone else, though, I highly recommend swinging by your local theater and having a good time.
