According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been prohibited in Saudi Arabia. According to the publication’s sources, the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring film contains an LGBTQ character named America Chavez, who is homosexual in the comics. The film was also rejected by the censor board since homosexuality is illegal in Middle Eastern nations. America Chavez is a character that Marvel has long intended to present (she was even briefly featured in Spider-Man: No Way Home), and her sexuality isn’t preventing the team from successful self her on-screen.
The terrible fact is that many sections of the Middle East still have a long way to go when it comes to LGBTQIA+ issues, since people in these countries do not have the same rights or treatment as those in other parts of the world. That is still the case in films, with Doctor Strange 2 facing the same ban as Eternals because of a gay character. Despite the fact that this will make a dent in Disney and Marvel’s box office returns with this sequel, the studio is committed to including this sort of representation in their films, no matter how little a role it plays in the storyline.
After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and the Disney+ series WandaVision, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness takes place. Cumberbatch’s wizard is forced to confront his evil side. Several new Marvel characters are likely to be introduced, as well as the return of a few existing ones. The film is directed by Sam Raimi, who is best known for directing Tobey Maguire in the original Spider-Man trilogy.
The advance booking for the film is no longer accessible in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Qatar, according to the Hollywood Reporter. However, they are accessible in the UAE, implying that the film will be released there. Previously, screenings of West Side Story and Eternals were halted in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. On May 6, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be released. The film also stars Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams.
