Spider-Man, Brand New Day faces boycott calls over Israel ties

Pro-Palestinian campaigners in Lebanon, Jordan and other parts of the Arab world are calling for a boycott of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, turning the release of the highly anticipated superhero film into a wider debate over politics, culture and entertainment.

The campaign is focused on producer Avi Arad, an Israeli and US citizen and former Marvel Studios chief, whose public statements and past military service have drawn criticism from activists opposed to Israel’s conduct during the war in Gaza.

In Lebanon, the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel urged audiences not to buy tickets for the film, arguing that spending money on productions involving individuals who have publicly supported Israel amounts to cultural normalisation.

The group called on the public to avoid paid screenings and questioned whether audiences should financially support a production involving people with political ties to Israel.

A separate anti-normalisation group in Jordan, Taharrak, also called for the movie to be boycotted and urged cinemas not to include it in their schedules. The group appealed to Jordanian artists, cinema operators and other organisations to take a position against its screening.

The boycott calls have subsequently been shared by activists and online content creators in other Arab countries.

The film, which stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker, was released internationally on July 31. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, it is produced by Arad alongside Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor.

Campaigners have specifically targeted Arad rather than the film’s storyline or its wider cast and production team.

Arad served in the Israeli military from 1965 to 1968 and has previously spoken publicly about his connection to Israel. In a 2024 letter published by TheWrap, he criticised former US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after Schumer criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for new Israeli elections.

Arad argued that American politicians should not interfere in Israel’s electoral affairs and described himself as a proud former member of the Israeli military.

Campaigners say such statements justify their call for a boycott, arguing that ticket purchases could provide financial support to a production involving Arad.

However, the impact of the campaign on the film’s commercial performance remains uncertain. Despite the boycott appeal, Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued screening in Lebanon, while a representative of Grand Cinemas told L’Orient Today that audience demand remained strong shortly after its release.

The controversy highlights how major Hollywood releases can become entangled in geopolitical debates, with audiences increasingly examining the political positions and backgrounds of figures behind popular entertainment.