Ban on Screening Hollywood Film 'Wonder Woman' in Lebanon

The lead role in the new Hollywood film 'Wonder Woman' played by Israeli actress Gal Gadot has led to its ban in Lebanon. The film is currently screening in theaters across the U.S. and several other Western countries, but Lebanon has preemptively labeled it as a film featuring 'an Israeli soldier.' According to the Associated Press, the Lebanese Minister of Economy stated that the ban is due to Gadot's Israeli nationality and her service in the Israeli army. This comes despite previous approvals from Lebanese authorities for the film's screening, with promotional posters visible in public and theaters until recently. The film's premiere in Lebanon was set to take place at the 'Cinema City' complex in Beirut alongside other countries. However, the Lebanese Ministry of Economy has requested cooperation from security agencies to enforce the ban. Lebanese media and public opinion have divided over this decision. Some Lebanese on social media have stated that Gadot is a member of the army of a country that has fought against Lebanon and has only brought crime and destruction to the country. The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, aligned with Hezbollah, headlined on Thursday: 'Lebanon is no place for an Israeli soldier.' Another group of public opinion in Lebanon has deemed the ban 'foolish' and contrary to the cultural spirit prevailing in Lebanon. Gadot previously starred in blockbuster films in Hollywood, including 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,' which was screened last year in Arab and Muslim countries, including Lebanon. Gadot has not directly responded to the ban on the film's screening in Lebanon, as reports indicate she has been advised against commenting to avoid repercussions in other Muslim and Arab countries. Nevertheless, she had previously stated to Israeli media that she 'proudly' served in her country's army. Military service for girls in Israel is mandatory, and non-religious girls must serve for two years. This is the first time that the lead role in a major Hollywood film produced by Warner Bros. has been assigned to 32-year-old Gadot. Gadot was born in the Israeli settlement of Rosh HaAyin to parents of European and Australian descent, is married to Israeli businessman Yaron Varsano, and is a mother of two young daughters. She began her acting and modeling career in 2004 but rose to stardom after entering Hollywood in 2009. In 2015, she was a supermodel for Gucci. 'Wonder Woman' is a fantasy character from American comic strips. The United Nations recognized the superhero role in the film 'Wonder Woman' last year as effective in empowering women and combating sexual violence, appointing it as an honorary ambassador despite significant criticism regarding its revealing and sexualized appearance. The Hollywood director Diana Prince, who directed 'Wonder Woman,' is currently preparing the first part of 'Wonder Woman: The Justice Society' and aims to complete the second part of the film by 2019. It is estimated that in the first weekend of its release in several countries, 'Wonder Woman' earned $175 million. 'Wonder Woman' has been screened in 4,100 theaters in North America during its initial days of release.