Egypt and Kuwait have become the latest nations to ban Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness from theaters, owing to its inclusion of America Chavez, an openly gay character.IMAX Egypt announced on social media that the film will no longer be playing in the region. "Doctor Strange and Wanda will not be here during their journey between universes! [Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness] won't be released in Egypt," the company wrote.
The news comes shortly after reports revealed Saudia Arabia had banned the film, specifically due to its LGBTQ+ character. It has been reported theaters in Kuwait will no longer screen the film either, though this has not yet been confirmed.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait each possess some form of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In Saudi Arabia, punishment for same-sex acts, cross-dressing, or simply being transgender ranges from fines to imprisonment and even the death penalty. Media is heavily censored where LGBTQ+ content is involved. Similar laws are implemented in Egypt, with numerous human rights organizations reporting entrapment, abuse and torture by authorities against LGBTQ+ people.
Marvel Studios' Eternals faced similar censorship upon its release. However, an edited version of the film was later released, excluding LGBTQ+ characters and scenes. It is uncertain if the upcoming Multiverse of Madness will release a similarly edited version of the film.
Writer Joe Casey and artist Nick Dragotta introduced America Chavez in Marvel Comics' Vengeance #1 back in 2011. As an openly gay character, Chavez was the first Latin American, LGBTQ+ character to receive her own solo series. Casey recently discussed the topic of the superhero's sexual orientation and her depiction in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
"This certainly isn't unique to America Chavez but I've always thought that our superhero fiction should, in very fundamental ways, reflect our own reality," Casey said. "Unlike the Marvel Universe that was originally seen in the early 1960s comics, our current reality is multicultural. So more recently-created Marvel characters like America Chavez and Miles Morales and Kamala Khan not only reflect the world of 2022, they seem to have connected to a section of fandom that, in one way or another, strongly identify with them."
In addition to Chavez, the film will feature new teams like the Illuminati and familiar faces like the emotionally charged Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is scheduled to hit theaters on May 6.