The movie “Wicked” is now showing in cinemas in Kuwait, days after it was removed from the lists on the eve of its release in local theaters.
There were fears that the film would become the latest Hollywood import to be banned in the Gulf state – with some local media speculating that the move was prompted by the fact that the critically acclaimed musical from Universal Pictures features an LGBTQ cast. Previous studio titles that have been deleted from cinema sites have not been released (often without an official reason from the authorities), however diverse He confirmed that the word “Wicked” has now been included again.
Jon M. Chu’s big-screen version of the Broadway prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked,” debuted in the U.S. and Canada last week, grossing more than $114 million in its first two days in North America alone. Ariana Grande plays Glinda, a role created by Kristin Chenoweth, along with Cynthia Erivo who plays Elphaba. The cast is completed by Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marisa Pudi, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Peter Dinklage.
The screenplay was written by Winnie Holzman, Winnie Holzman, and Dana Fox, based on the musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire.
The film opened in North America last weekend to a record $114 million in 3,888 theaters. This is the third-biggest domestic debut of the year behind Deadpool & Wolverine ($211 million) and Inside Out 2 ($154 million).
The BO arc for “Wicked” is also the fourth-largest start in history for a musical, ahead of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” remake ($95.5 million) and behind “Frozen II” ($130 million).
Kuwait has become the strictest country among the Gulf states regarding film censorship, more so than Saudi Arabia. After the movie “Barbie” was banned last summer, Kuwaitis traveled across the border to watch the movie. Later in 2023, Kuwait also banned the horror film “Talk to Me” due to the inclusion of a transgender actor.