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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness gets banned in Saudi Arabia

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness gets banned in Saudi Arabia

Like Eternals and West Side Story, the upcoming film also got blocked for inclusion of an LGBTQ character.
23 Apr, 2022

It has now become a pattern for Disney and Marvel movies to get censored in Gulf regions. Action fantasy film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the latest film to have been banned in Saudi Arabia for LGBTQ representation.

Marvel's long-awaited follow-up to 2016's hit superhero film starring Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch, has been banned in Kingdom. According to The Hollywood Reporter, rumours started to emerge on Friday that the film had been banned in Saudi. Though it's not confirmed, rumour has it that the film has been banned in Kuwait as well.

The film is yet to be released worldwide and yet to be reviewed but the decision to ban was solely due to the inclusion of an LGBTQ character. According to the publication, their Middle East sources said that the new sequel introduces a new character, America Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez) who, as per her portrayal in the comics, is gay. With homosexuality considered illegal in Arab countries, films featuring any sort of pro-homosexual character or references have the possibility of being blocked, as was the case for MCU's Eternals and Disney's West Side Story.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was due to release on May 5 across the Gulf region as part of its global theatrical release. While the advance booking for tickets are no longer available on websites in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, they are available in the UAE, suggesting that the film will release there.

The film follows the footsteps of Chloe Zhao's superhero film starring Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani, Angelina Jolie, Don Lee, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Kit Harrington and others. Like Eternals, the sequel for Doctor Strange according to reports, also includes a same-gender couple in the film — Chavez with Ramone Watts. Zhao's film also showed the same which became the reason why the MCU's first gay superhero film got banned in the Arab region. The censor reportedly requested Disney to make edits in the film, which it refused to make. Though, an edited version did run on the theatre screens in the UAE.

Three months ago, in January, Disney's West Side Story was banned from the theatres in Saudi Arabia the, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. Regional sources had told The Hollywood Reporter that the decision was made due to the character Anybodys, played by non-binary actor Iris Menas, that was written as transgender in the latest adaptation.

Comments

Mahmood Apr 23, 2022 11:45am
When will the Saudis ban the MBS Madness ??
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Abdul Apr 23, 2022 12:52pm
Should be banned in pakistan too
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Ahsan Gul Apr 23, 2022 01:17pm
USA under Biden administration is the biggest supporter of LGBT rights. But this November both houses will be under Republicans hopefully. Sincerely
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Anonymouseee Apr 23, 2022 03:51pm
Good step. It should be banned world wide.
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Tizk Apr 23, 2022 04:08pm
@Mahmood what is that can u tell me plz
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Jahanara Apr 23, 2022 05:16pm
It should be banned everywhere in the world. As these kind of movies are a source of promoting evil in the societies.
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Hansoti sh Apr 23, 2022 05:57pm
@Abdul WE CANNOT BUILD A COCOON to stop the tsunami, but build our own positive & interesting evolving cultures so they win ATTENTION inside & outside e.g. Turkish entertainment scene
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Hansoti sh Apr 23, 2022 05:58pm
@Tizk chop chop
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Constantine Apr 23, 2022 05:59pm
Backward people
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NYS Apr 23, 2022 06:02pm
Good to know banned in gulf
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Ahad Apr 23, 2022 09:36pm
They could have just told Disney to cut the unwanted scene out? Disney usually makes it in such a way that they can easily remove it for country's that don't want that nonsense in movies. Pakistan should do the same, if it has any decency.
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Ahad Apr 23, 2022 09:38pm
Having read the article now I see it probably wasn't possible to simply make edits, in that case it's the right decision to block it.
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Azfar Apr 23, 2022 09:44pm
Good decision by saudia and rest of Middle Eastern countries, it should not be allowed to air here .
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NYS Apr 23, 2022 11:38pm
@Tizk MBS Mahmood Bin Sultan who is promulgating foreign agenda in highly Islamic rituals country
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Shahzad Arif Apr 24, 2022 12:01am
They're all the right to protect their values and if a film is against their values then they should ban it. Right decision IMO.
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Wanderer Apr 24, 2022 01:52am
Great job saudia arab !!! Because at this rate , being straight will be crime in near future . About time people should stand against "forced LGBTQ culture"
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Salvo Apr 24, 2022 03:42am
@Jahanara ignorance is king
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Salman Apr 24, 2022 06:19am
Eternals was rubbish anyway
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Saheem Siddiqi Apr 24, 2022 06:36am
@Constantine for people heading the wrong way, of course such a forward looking act will look backward.
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Rock Solid- 2.0 Apr 24, 2022 12:34pm
@Abdul and with you can also save precious foreign exchange!!
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IMP Apr 25, 2022 02:45am
My country, my law
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