Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered Tuesday night outside the premiere of the film "Captain America: Brave New World" in Los Angeles, calling for a boycott of the film due to the inclusion of the Israeli superheroine Sabra, played by Shira Haas.
Along with chants of "Free Palestine," the protesters held signs that read, among other things: "Sabra must go," "Disney supports genocide," and "Boycott 'Captain America.'"
The inclusion of the character of Sabra, who in the original comics is an Mossad agent, has sparked controversy among fans since her announcement in 2022. In light of this and the mood in the world over the past year and a half, Marvel announced that it is expected to take a "fresh approach" to the character in the film. "While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always reimagined for today's screen and audience, and the creators are taking a fresh approach to the character of Sabra, who first appeared in the comics more than 40 years ago," the company previously stated in a statement to Variety.
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Shira Haas from 'Captain America: New World Order'
(Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios)
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The film's producer, Nate Moore, added in February that in the film, Sabra "is not in the Mossad" but "works for the United States government."
Trailer: 'Captain America: Brave New World'
(באדיבות פורום פילם)
Haas in an interview with Yedioth Acharonot responded to the comments, saying: "The first second it was announced that I was in the film, even before October 7, there was a buzz about the fact that I was an Israeli character. I received amazing reactions, and also some who liked it less. There is no doubt that after October 7 it became more challenging, and then there were the makeovers, and then I heard that I was not in the film, and then I heard that I was Russian, and then I heard that they had enlarged my character in the film. But my character was always an Israeli-American who works close to the President of the United States, played by Harrison Ford. That hasn't changed."