Doctor Strange 2 Banned in Saudi Arabia For Having a Lesbian Character

Once again, a Marvel movie has been banned overseas for including LGBTQ+ content.

This time, the movie being banned is the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the reason is teen lesbian superhero America Chavez. The Hollywood Reporter reports that due to LGBTQ+ issues, the movie is being banned in Saudi Arabia, and possibly in Kuwait.

While plot details aren't out, it seems that Chavez is gay enough in the film to not be able to squeak by the censors. This could be a good sign for queer MCU fans who are hoping to see LGBTQ+ characters get to live out their queerness in the movies.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and America Chavez fly into theaters on May 5.

Last year, Marvel Studios ran into a similar problem when its film The Eternals was banned in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar after the company said it was unwilling to make edits to the movie to take out gay superhero Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and his husband.

While Phastos and his sexuality certainly weren't the focus of the film, it was enough that censors in the countries banned the whole film, something director Chloe Zhao was happy about.

"I don't know all the details but I do believe discussions were had and there's a big desire from Marvel and myself -- we talked about this -- to not change the cut of the movie," Zhao said at the time.

After Doctor Strange, the MCU's next movie will also likely face censorship issues in different territories, as it features a storyline where Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson, becomes the King of Asgard and searches for a queen. Thor: Love and Thunder comes out July 8.

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