'Barbie' is finally being released in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after speculation that the film would be banned.
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00:00 "Humans only have one ending."
00:03 "Get that Barbie!"
00:04 "Ideas live forever."
00:08 Barbie is finally being released in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
00:12 after speculation that the film would be banned.
00:15 The Hollywood Reporter can confirm that the movie,
00:17 which has already passed $1 billion at the global box office,
00:20 is set to be released in the Gulf this Thursday.
00:23 "Hi Barbie!"
00:24 "Hi Ken!"
00:26 THR understands that the film had originally been due for release across the region
00:30 in line with its worldwide rollout on July 21.
00:33 However, when local censors suggested a number of small edits,
00:36 this date was pushed back to August 31.
00:39 While the move did destroy chances of Gulf cinemas getting to experience
00:42 the so-called "Barbenheimer" phenomenon,
00:44 it did presumably give both the censors and Barbie Studio Warner Bros.
00:48 ample time to iron out any issues.
00:50 It seems a solution has now been found with the release date pulled forward.
00:54 Although THR has been unable to confirm whether any cuts to the film
00:57 have been made in order to secure this.
00:59 The release is currently limited to the Gulf's two biggest box offices.
01:02 There's no news on Barbie opening in other Gulf territories.
01:05 For more on this story and the latest movie news, go to THR.com.
01:09 This is The Hollywood Reporter News.
01:11 News.
01:11 (upbeat music)
01:14 (upbeat music)