'Captain America: Brave New World' premiere faces pro-Palestine protests
What's the story
The Hollywood premiere of Captain America: Brave New World was met with pro-Palestine protests on Tuesday (US time).
The demonstrators, numbering in the dozens, called for a boycott of the film due to its inclusion of Israeli superhero Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra.
Protestors held signs with messages such as "Sabra has got to go," "Disney supports genocide," and "Boycott Captain America."
Character controversy
Sabra's inclusion in 'Brave New World' sparked controversy
The character of Sabra, played by Shira Haas, has been controversial ever since her MCU entry was announced.
In the comics, Sabra is a Mossad (Israeli intelligence) agent, which prompted backlash from Palestinian fans in 2022.
However, Marvel Studios addressed the criticism by saying they are taking a "new approach" to the character for Brave New World.
Official response
Marvel and producer Nate Moore addressed the controversy
In the wake of the controversy, Marvel Studios released a statement saying, "While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always freshly imagined for the screen and today's audience."
Producer Nate Moore further clarified that in Brave New World, Sabra is "not Mossad" but instead "works in the US government."
He said this was done to explore interesting dynamics between her character and President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford).
Past controversy
Sabra's contentious history in Marvel comics
Sabra's debut in Marvel Comics came in an early 1980s issue of The Incredible Hulk.
Even back then, her presence was contentious as it brought the voice of Marvel into the Israeli-Palestine conflict.
This historical controversy has resurfaced with her inclusion in Brave New World, despite attempts by Marvel Studios and producer Moore to distance the character from her original Mossad affiliation.