Pro-Palestinian groups in Lebanon, Jordan, and other Arab countries are asking people not to watch the new film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Their reason is that one of its producers, Avi Arad, has openly supported Israel and defended its actions during the war in Gaza.
The Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel, based in Lebanon, has asked people to avoid buying tickets for the film. The group says paying to watch a movie linked to someone who backs Israel means helping to make such support seem normal and acceptable.
In Jordan, a similar group called Taharrak also called for the film to be pulled from local cinemas altogether. They urged artist unions and theatre owners to take a clear stand against showing it.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out internationally on July 31. It stars Tom Holland as Spider-Man and was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Along with Arad, the film’s producers include well-known names like Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal.
Avi Arad, a former head of Marvel Studios, holds both Israeli and American citizenship. He served in the Israeli army from 1965 to 1968 and took part in the 1967 war. In 2024, he strongly criticised a US senator who had spoken out against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it wasn’t the senator’s place to comment on Israeli politics.
Campaigners argue that Arad’s past comments show clear support for Israel’s actions, which is why they don’t want people funding the film. Still, the boycott hasn’t stopped ticket sales everywhere. In Lebanon, cinema chains say the movie continues to draw large audiences despite the calls to skip it.
