Noah, the Biblical flick, starring Russell Crowe has been banned in several countries ahead of its premiere. According to a representative of the movie’s distributor Paramount, speaking for Reuters, several others are expected to follow suit soon.tr

Watch the Noah trailer below.

As for the reason – the predominantly Muslim countries in question frown upon depicting prophets and religious figures in mass media and art and depictions of the Prophet Mohammad in European and North American media have repeatedly sparked deadly protests in Islamic countries over the last decade, adding to existing cultural tensions with the West. Similar reactions are expected in Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait.

Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe stars in the unexpectedly controversial flick, based on the Old Testament.

"Censors for Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) officially confirmed this week that the film will not release in their countries," a representative of Paramount Pictures, which produced the $125 million, told Reuters.

"The official statement they offered in confirming this news is because 'it contradicts the teachings of Islam'," the representative said.

The movie, starring Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins will have its US premiere on March 28. It bares a discaimer: the movie takes artistc licence.