Billy Eichner’s rom-com Bros will not be released in the Middle East, due to cultural and commercial factors in the region.
Bros will be making box-office history by being the first gay rom-com ever made by a major studio to be released in cinemas.
However, the film will not be available to watch in the Middle East, according to Variety.
There is yet to be confirmation on which countries will be impacted.
It is likely Bros will not be released in Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
These nations are known for heavily censoring LGBTQ+ content.
The film includes a number of explicit gay sex scenes, which is said to be the reason why it cannot be distributed.
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Bros stars Billy Eichner as Bobby, a knowledgeable podcaster who is committed to staying single.
He then meets lawyer Aaron (played by Luke Macfarlane) who changes his perspective on romance.
The film was directed by Nicholas Stoller and also stars Ts Madison, Kristen Chenoweth, Bowen Yang and Kenan Thompson.
This isn’t the first time that films have missed out on a release in the Middle East.
Disney’s Lightyear was also excluded from certain territories due to the inclusion of a same-sex kiss.
The kiss was initially cut from the film until Pixar animators penned an open letter to Disney to reinstate it.
Sources told Variety that Lightyear was never submitted to censors in Saudi Arabia, as they knew it would not pass.
Censorship is said to be becoming less restrictive in the U.A.E.
Bros received a warm reception at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere earlier this month.
Critics who reviewed the film had mixed reviews following its debut.
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