Marvel’s Doctor Strange 2 May be Banned in Saudi Arabia

Disney/Marvel’s upcoming big global blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently not getting a theatrical release in Saudi Arabia, according to Deadline, who has confirmed the news.

The site reports that Doctor Strange 2 hasn’t technically been banned, it simply didn’t receive a distribution certificate. 

This follows in the wake of Marvel’s The Eternals not playing in Saudi Arabia, that pic forbidden there over its same-gender couple romance and the MCU’s first gay superhero. Quite often movies with LGBTQ content don’t make it past censors in the Gulf, and Doctor Strange 2 features America Chavez (portrayed by Xochitl Gomez) who is gay in Marvel Comics.

Doctor Strange 2 was scheduled to be released across the Gulf as part of the day-and-date theatrical debut on May 5. The sequel is expected to be released in United Arab Emirates. Kuwait and Qatar’s release for Doctor Strange 2 remain up in the air.