Lebanon Bans ‘Wonder Woman’ Screenings Because Of Israeli Star Gal Gadot

The ban went into effect just hours before the film was supposed to screen.
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Despite its positive early reviews, and high rating on Rotten Tomatoes, people living in Lebanon won’t be able to see “Wonder Woman” in their theaters anytime soon.

The film, starring Israel-born actress Gal Gadot, has officially been banned from screenings in the country, which is in a conflict with Israel, The Guardian reports. Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Force for two years and has publicly expressed support for the IDF.

Just hours before the ban went into effect, “Wonder Woman” was scheduled to premiere in Lebanon. Grand Cinemas, a Lebanese theater chain, announced the ban with a post on Twitter.

“Wonder Woman” passed Lebanon’s screening procedures, The Guardian notes, but the government reportedly responded to pressure from the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon to ban what they called “the Israeli Soldier film.”

Interestingly, Gadot’s “Fast and Furious” films, as well as “Batman v Superman,” have screened in Lebanon, though The Campaign tried to have the latter banned. Films starring fellow Israel-born star Natalie Portman have also screened in Lebanon.

“Wonder Woman” found itself in the middle of another controversy earlier this week when the Austin branch of the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater chain announced a women-only screening. Naturally, men responded with outrage.

Despite the ban and controversy over the woman-only screening, Warner Bros. is expecting “Wonder Woman” to make a whopping $175 million debut at the box office. As of right now, the film also has a 95 percent rating (down from 96) on Rotten Tomatoes, putting it ahead of Marvel films like “Iron Man,” “The Avengers” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

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