Marvel’s ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ boycotted by pro-Palestine protestors at premiere

Actor Shira Haas attends the premiere for the film ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ in Los Angeles
| Photo Credit: MARIO ANZUONI

The Los Angeles premiere of Captain America: Brave New World was met with controversy as pro-Palestine protestors gathered outside the venue on Tuesday, calling for a boycott of the film. The backlash stems from the inclusion of the Israeli superhero Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra, played by Shira Haas.

Protestors held signs reading “Sabra has got to go,”“Disney supports genocide,” and “Boycott Captain America.” Chants of “Free, free, free Palestine” and “Disney, Disney, you can’t hide” echoed through the crowd, reflecting concerns over the film’s portrayal of the character.

Sabra’s origins as a Mossad agent in Marvel comics have long been a point of contention, particularly among Palestinian fans. When her casting was announced in 2022, it sparked immediate backlash, prompting Marvel to release a statement assuring that the character would be reimagined for modern audiences.

“While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics,” Marvel stated, “they are always freshly imagined for the screen and today’s audience, and the filmmakers are taking a new approach with the character Sabra who was first introduced in the comics over 40 years ago.”

Producer Nate Moore later clarified that Sabra is “not Mossad” in the film and instead works within the U.S. government under President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford. He emphasized that her background as a first-generation Israeli will factor into the story but in a way that differs from her original comic book portrayal.