Marvel’s much-awaited Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which has already faced a ban in multiple countries due to the presence of an LGBTQ character (America Chavez) is facing obstacles pertaining to its release this Friday in Pakistan.
About The Ban
Amidst sources whispering hints of the Marvel film facing a delay in release or a possible ban, news has surfaced that the film will not be releasing on its intended date of global release (6th May) in Pakistan.
Sources also state that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been referred to a full board review by the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC), while two out of the three operative censor boards, i.e; Punjab Film Censor Board (PFCB) and Sindh Board of Film Censors (SBFC) have already allegedly issued the film a censor certificate.
Furthermore, journalist Hasan Kazmi shared in a post that the Chairman of the CBFC, Mr. Arshad Munir, has allegedly confirmed that owing to the presence of LGBTQ characters and dialogues, the Marvel film could not be issued a censor certificate. However, his post also mentioned that the full board review will be held after Eid holidays on Friday, 6th May, which is also when the film is set to release globally.
About The Film
The Benedict Cumberbatch starrer is a sequel to the 2016 precursor, and has Sam Raimi (of the original Spider-Man trilogy) grasping the directorial helm. In this installment, Doctor Strange is to team up with Scarlet Witch, played by Elizabeth Olsen. As per the trailer, audiences see Doctor Strange aiming to curb the impact of the spell he cast in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Eid Films
The fact that five Pakistani films are also releasing on Eid has been evident through abundant promotional activity. However, as discussed in a previous article, the distribution of slots in cinemas, and the hanging question mark regarding where audiences would be drawn to when the all films release, come up as points to ponder over once again.
A ban on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness could undoubtedly bode well for all the local releases that, albeit laden with glitz, glamor, and gripping tales, will then no longer have the Marvel giant against which to compete.
This, of course, is a segue into a larger debate about local cinema and its comparison with foreign cinema. However, barring that discussion for now, it will be interesting to see how the Eid films fare, given this recent development, and whether or not Pakistani audiences get to experience the Marvel film.
