- Title: Disney does say gay, in latest Marvel film 'Doctor Strange'
- Date: 4th May 2022
- Summary: WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 30, 2022) (Reuters) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR, SAM RAIMI, SAYING: "I think this is designed to push the MCU along to its next phase, so I've heard and so I understand from the storylines. We've taken a lot of elements from 'WandaVision' and pushed her forward into a logical progressive point and I think the same is true from the 'Avengers' films as far as what Thanos' effect has been on the universe but mostly it's opening up the multiverse. It's allowing for possibilities and combinations of characters in new ways, alternate versions of characters that we know and it's really opening the door for, I hope, a whole other series of Marvel films."
- Embargoed: 18th May 2022 11:02
- Keywords: America Chavez Benedict Wong Disney Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness LGBTQ+ Marvel Sam Raimi Xochitl Gomez
- Location: WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES; UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- City: WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES; UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Film,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA008531602052022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: After being embroiled in the 'Don't Say Gay' bill in Florida, Disney isn't backing away from saying gay with 'Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness'.
The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film introduces new character America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who is being pursued for her superpower - the ability to cross the multiverse - until Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) jumps in to help.
The movie has sparked objections in some parts of the Middle East, according to media reports.
An official in Saudi Arabia told The Guardian newspaper that Disney was asked to remove a brief clip that makes "LGBTQ references." In the clip, Chavez's younger self is seen with two moms.
Disney declined to cut same-sex references in the film, and it will not be released in Saudi Arabia or a handful of other Middle Eastern countries, a source familiar with the matter said.
A representative for Saudi Arabia's government did not respond to a request for comment.
The film's director, Sam Raimi, told Reuters "I don't think there's much to object to personally. I hope that those countries that are considering not showing the film will watch the film. I think they'll realize there's not too much harm in 'The Multiverse of Madness'."
In the comic books, Chavez is widely seen as a lesbian character who despises authority and likes to use her fists as much as possible.
In the film, Chavez's sexuality is only touched on by the fact she wears an LGBTQ+ pin/badge on the lapel of her denim jacket.
Cumberbatch said "We don't really know about her sexuality but she comes from a same sex parenting pair of mothers. It's in the comic lore anyway."
When asked about the ban, Cumberbatch replied "It's an expected disappointment and what's disappointing about it is the need to be able to talk about this still as an issue, that there are countries that don't only exclude cultural representation but also punish those who don't conform to their idea of normality, who punish LGBTQ+ communities and I mean, severe punishments and sometimes death and disappearance and arrests and just massive amounts of human rights abuses," he added.
"I'm just happy that Marvel stuck to their guns and they were like 'We're going to keep it'," said Gomez.
"I think that's really big of them and I'm happy that I get to be the person who kind of represents America. I'm really proud," she added.
As the film tackles the multiverse, Marvel fans are thirsty for cameos by characters new and old. Pre-ticket sales have already hit the $42 million mark in the United States.
Raimi said "This is designed to push the MCU along to its next phase, so I've heard and so I understand from the storylines."
He added "It's opening up the multiverse. It's allowing for possibilities and combinations of characters in new ways, alternative versions of characters that we know and it's really opening the door for, I hope, a whole other series of Marvel films."
The film is also touted as being the first of its kind in the MCU - a horror movie.
"I would definitely say it's the darkest and scariest that this lot (Marvel) have made," Cumberbatch said of the new film.
He said "I would say it's not going to put a lot of people off hopefully watching it but there is Sam Raimi-tastic schlock horror and there are great jump scares and yeah, totally, it is darker than any film that we've done so far."
The fact that Wanda and Doctor Strange use magic made the characters a good fit for venturing into horror, Raimi said.
"It has elements of the spooky and sometimes the fun and scary, but it never really intends to rock the audience to their core," Raimi said. "It’s not really trying to terrify the audience."
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' begins its global rollout on May 4.
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