Disney and the MCU have fallen under the control of Gulf censors once again.

Doctor Strange in a multiverse of madnessMarvel’s much-anticipated follow-up to the 2016 hit superhero movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch has been banned in Saudi Arabia. Rumors started surfacing online early Friday, with The Hollywood Reporter Now he officially confirms the decision. THR I heard that the ban also applies to Kuwait, although this has not been confirmed yet.

While the film is yet to be released and has yet to be reviewed, the decision is again said to be related to LGBTQ issues, according to Middle Eastern sources, with the new sequel introducing the character America Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez). ) who, as portrayed in the comics, is gay. With homosexuality officially illegal across the Gulf, films that feature any LGBTQ-related references or issues often fail to bypass censorship.

Doctor Strange in a multiverse of madness It was scheduled to launch across the Gulf on May 5 as part of its global rollout. While Advanced Tickets are no longer available on movie theater websites in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, they are in the United Arab Emirates, which suggests that they will be released there.

The film follows in the wake of Chloé Zhao eternitythat was Banned in most Gulf countries in November after a same-sex couple was included in the film and the first gay superhero in the MCU. on time, THR He understood that the censors had requested a series of alterations that Disney was not willing to make. However, a modified version was shown in the United Arab Emirates.

in january, West side story was too Stop making it to the cinemas In Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. This time, regional sources said THR The decision was due to the character of Anybodys, written as transgender in the new adaptation and played by non-binary actress Iris Minas.