The country of Tunisia has blocked the theatrical release of “Wonder Woman” over Gal Gadot’s Israeli heritage.
A lawsuit filed Monday by the Tunisian Association of Young Lawyers referred to the film’s Israel-born actress as a “champion Zionist” to halt the release in two theaters, according to a report published Wednesday by Variety magazine. (RELATED: Watch The Newest Trailer For ‘Wonder Woman’)
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
A Tunisian court stopped the release ahead of the blockbuster female hero film screening Thursday to “review the lawsuit.” (RELATED: Wonder Woman’s Weird Creator)
Another group blocked the release on May 31 in Lebanon for similar reasons, citing Gadot’s public backing of Israel’s actions during the 2014 Gaza war and service in the Israeli army.
A preview of the film was also cut from a film festival on Sunday in Algeria. The exact reason given by a spokesperson of the festival, Amine Idjer, said the move was due to “administrative issues linked to exhibition rights.”
The movie is still expected to open this week in Egypt, Morocco, and Arab Emirates.
“A special message to my fans. Thank you all, I love you all so much,” Gadot wrote in a message on Instagram Tuesday night, calling this week the most amazing and crazy of her life.
“Wonder Woman” topped the box office in its first weekend, earning more than $103 million domestically.
