Proud of Marvel for refusing to censor scenes from 'Eternals': Angelina Jolie

Oscar winner Chloe Zhao's directorial venture ''Eternals'', which opened in Indian theatres on Friday, was due to come out in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Oman on November 11, but to clear the film for the theatrical viewing the censors there had asked the Disney-owned company to remove same-sex intimate scenes between the characters of Phastos and Haaz Sleiman.

Jolie, who plays the immortal Thena in the film, said she feels sad for the audiences of the countries where the film won't be releasing due to censor issues.

''I'm sad for them. And I'm proud of Marvel for refusing to cut those scenes out. And I still don't understand how we live in a world today where someone would not see the family that Phastos has, and the beauty of that relationship and that love... How anybody is angry about it, threatened by it, doesn't approve or appreciate it is ignorant,'' Jolie said in a Zoom roundtable interview.

''Eternals'' centres on the titular group who has been living on earth for the past 7,000 years.

Created by cosmic beings called Celestials, the Eternals have been sent to earth to safeguard the planet from their evil counterparts Deviants.

The movie features a starry and diverse cast of Gemma Chan as Sersi, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Lia McHugh as Sprite and Barry Keoghan as Druig.

Zhao has penned the film's screenplay with Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo and Matthew K Firpo. The director had also spoken about having a word with the Marvel Studios on not censoring any scenes in the film. ''I don't know all the details, but I do believe discussions were had and there's a big desire from Marvel and myself — we talked about this — to not change the cut of the movie. Fingers crossed,'' Zhao told IndieWire.

''Eternals'' released in India in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.