Filmhouse Cinemas Confirm Eternals Disappearance From Schedule

Following news that the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) had banned the long anticipated Marvel superhero movie Eternals from showing in Nigerian movie theatres, cinema giants Filmhouse has issued an official statement.

Apparently, the film’s strong LGBTQ theme is the reason behind its yanking from theatre schedules across Nigeria barely hours before its premiere. In one controversial scene, actors Brian Tyree Henry and Haaz Sleiman shared a passionate kiss. That has put Eternals in the middle of a global controversy, with countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait banning the film after Disney reportedly refused to cut a same-sex kiss.

Director Chloe Zhao had in an interview shared that she hoped the film won’t be banned anywhere in the global market so fans can get a ‘full experience’.

According to Filmhouse’s statement, Eternals has been postponed, rather than banned as many first feared and a new release date will be communicated as soon as possible.

“You must have heard the news that the much anticipated Marvel Movie, #Eternals, that was
set to be released Yesterday, has been temporarily postponed in Nigeria.
The @filmoneng team is working hard to ensure that we bring #Eternals to our cinemas across Nigeria.
Please bear with us as a new date will be communicated As Soon As Possible.”

However, many have argued that Filmhouse’s statement is not quite clear and rather a subtle way of addressing the issues going on behind the scenes with NFVCB, stressing that films don’t just get postponed barely hours into their premiere.