Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Film Banned from Saudi Arabia Possibly for Including LGBTQ+ Character
According to The Wrap, the movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the upcoming Marvel Studios release has been banned from release in Saudi Arabia. Although the reason has not been clarified, it is believed that such a decision made by the Middle Eastern censors was due to the presence of the character America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who was confirmed to be a lesbian in the film as well as in the comics.
Multiverse of Madness: Film Banned from Saudi Arabia
It’s worth remembering that homosexuality is officially illegal in Saudi Arabia and that’s why LGBTQ+ themes in recent films have been a problem for the region’s censors. In addition to Madness’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse,” other Disney films to be banned from the country for the same reasons were Eternals and West Side Story. At the moment, it is not yet clear if the film will be released in the other countries of the Middle East, such as: United Arab Emirates, Kuwait or Qatar.
Directed by Sam Raimi and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens May 6 in theaters. The cast also includes Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong as Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez.
