The censor board of the Middle East have banned Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
However, the board of censors did not give any reason why they are banning it; it is basically the latest Marvel movie to fall victim to state-sponsored censorship to constrain certain civil liberties and human rights norms, including the expression of an LGBTQIA+lifestyle.
Due to the open LGBTQ character in their film, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), the Marvel film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been banned in three states Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Although the sequel to 2016’s Doctor Strange hasn’t been released or reviewed by the countries’ censor boards, it is confirmed that Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange 2 will introduce a gay character, America Chavez; an early ban has already been introduced been applied. America was the first lesbian Latina in Marvel Comics, debuting in 2011’s Vengeance #1 by Joe Casey, Nick Dragotta, Brad Simpson, and Rus Wooton.
Later, the character was returned in 2013’s Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Mike Norton, Stephen Thompson, Kris Anka, Matthew Wilson, and some other crossover storylines.
Nevertheless, the character’s 2017 debut in her first solo series kicked off Chavez’s notoriety. The comic was titled America and written by Latina novelist Gabby Riviera, with art contributions by Joe Quinones, Jose Villarrubia, and Travis Lanham.
“Disney has no comment” on the prohibition, according to The Wrap. In November 2021, however, when the Gulf countries made identical edit demands for Eternals, Marvel Studios and Disney declined to make the story alterations. Studios can choose whether or not to make the adjustments demanded by the censors, but with America Chavez slated to play a prominent role in the picture, either Marvel elected to stick by its film (as it did with Eternals) or the necessary edits would be impossible.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is not only the first movie that audiences in the Middle East haven’t been able to see a significant theatrical release in theatres.
According to the reports, these countries have been known for censoring movies for several reasons, including intimacy, violence and sexuality, homosexuality,” which is totally banned in Saudi Arabia; often, these films aren’t given a release certificate because of LGBTQIA+ representation and issues.