‘Doctor Strange within the Multiverse of Madness’ banned in Saudi Arabia

By PTI

LOS ANGELES: Marvel Studios’ much-anticipated film “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” has been banned in Saudi Arabia and several other different Arab international locations because of the presence of a homosexual character.

The ‘Doctor Strange’ sequel, which is able to launch within the US on May 6, was initially scheduled for hit theatres in Saudi Arabia and different Gulf international locations on May 5.

According to Variety, the Saudi Arabian censors did not problem the distribution certificates to the Benedict Cumberbatch-led superhero film. The Sam Raimi-directed sequel stars Cumberbatch because the titular character and likewise options new hero America Chavez, performed by actor Xochitl Gomez. Her character within the movie is reportedly homosexual.

Prior to “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, Marvel’s “The Eternals” was banned in Saudi Arabia, over its same-gender couple romance and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first homosexual superhero.

“Doctor Strange” sequel follows the Sorcerer Supreme as he tries to include the aftermath of the multiverse-fracturing spell he solid in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, which brought about villains from throughout the multiverse to spill over into the central Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline.