Film fans in the UAE and other Gulf states will have to wait a little longer than the rest of the world to view the latest installment in blockbuster franchise Batman, Abu Dhabi daily The National reported.
The Dark Knight Rises is slated to release globally on July 20, but due to the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan falling during the same period, the movie won’t hit UAE screens until August 16, the report said.
"Out of respect for the UAE and Islamic customs during the Holy Month of Ramadan, we schedule the new film releases until the Eid Holiday," The National quoted Roy Chacra, managing director of Shooting Stars, the film's regional distributor as saying.
The news has sparked an online petition calling for the movie to be released at the same time as the rest of the world.
“For fans who have been tremendously dedicated to this franchise from Batman Begins, it is ridiculous that we should have to wait an entire month for what could become one of the Middle East’s favourite movies of all time,” the petition said.
Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale as the caped crusader, The Dark Knight Rises is intended to be the final episode of the Batman series, making it one of the most hotly anticipated films of the summer.