Pro-Palestine activists call for boycott of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' over producer's Israel ties

Pro-Palestinian activists in several Arab countries are urging audiences to boycott Spider-Man: Brand New Day, citing the political views and past statements of one of the film’s producers, Avi Arad.

The boycott campaign has gained traction in Lebanon and Jordan, where groups opposing normalisation with Israel have called on cinemas and audiences to reject the film.

In Lebanon, the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel asked people not to pay to watch the movie, arguing that ticket sales would financially benefit a production associated with individuals who have publicly supported Israel.

A similar appeal was issued in Jordan by the Taharrak anti-normalisation group, which called for the film to be kept out of local cinemas and urged the Jordanian Artists Syndicate and cinema operators to oppose its screening. Activists elsewhere in the Arab world have also promoted the boycott.

The campaign centres on Arad, rather than the film’s storyline or its cast. Arad, who holds Israeli and US citizenship, previously headed Marvel Studios and is listed by Marvel as one of the four producers of the new film.

Arad served in the Israeli military between 1965 and 1968 and participated in the 1967 Six-Day War.

His political views came under renewed scrutiny after a 2024 letter in which he criticised then-US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for describing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace and calling for new elections in Israel.

Arad argued that Schumer had no right to intervene in Israel’s political affairs and rejected his position on a ceasefire. He also referred to his military service in Israel with pride.

Boycott organisers say such statements amount to public support for Israel during the Gaza conflict and maintain that consumers should not financially support productions linked to people holding those views.

The campaign's impact on the film’s commercial performance in the region is not yet clear. The movie, which stars Tom Holland and was released internationally on July 31, continues to be screened in Lebanon. A Grand Cinemas representative told L’Orient Today after its release that the film was attracting strong demand.