Jakarta – The Hollywood premiere of Captain America: Brave New World was packed—not just with attendees, but also with protesters outside the venue.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe film’s premiere, calling for a boycott of Captain America: Brave New World.
They believe that the film includes the Israeli superhero Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra, portrayed by Shira Haas. The protesters also carried banners reading “Sabra must go.”
“Disney supports genocide, boycott Captain America, and pray for Princess Jasmine,” read one of the banners.
They also chanted slogans like “Free Palestine” and “Disney, you can’t hide.”
Sabra is depicted as a Mossad agent in the comic book series on which the movie is based. However, this has been a controversial topic among fans since 2022.
Marvel released a statement ensuring that they are taking a new approach to the character in Captain America: Brave New World.
“While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always freshly adapted for the screen and today’s audiences. The filmmakers are taking a new approach to the character Sabra, who was first introduced in comics more than 40 years ago,” Marvel stated to Variety.
The film’s producer, Nate Moore, further clarified that Sabra is not a Mossad agent in the movie, but instead works for the U.S. government.
“Ruth (Sabra) works in the government under Ross (President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford), so that’s her perspective in the film. She is a first-generation Israeli, but she works for the U.S. government,” he explained.
Sabra’s first appearance in Marvel comics dates back to the early 1980s in The Incredible Hulk. Even then, her presence was controversial because it brought Marvel into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Meanwhile, Shira Haas, who plays Sabra, is an Israeli actress. She gained international recognition after starring in the Netflix series Unorthodox.
Unorthodox is adapted from the 2012 autobiographical novel by Deborah Feldman, titled Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots. It tells the story of Deborah’s experiences growing up in a Hasidic Jewish community.
Shira Haas played the lead role as Esty, a woman who escapes from an Orthodox Jewish community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, USA. She flees from an unhappy marriage due to strict community rules.
With a secretly prepared passport and money hidden in her belt, Esty flies to Berlin, Germany, escaping from her community. There, she reunites with the mother who abandoned her as a child.
