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Benedict Cumberbatch stars in "Doctor Strange
and the Multiverse of Madness," a follow-up to a 2016 film that
introduced the neurosurgeon-turned-sorcerer to the big screen.
"I would definitely say it's the darkest and scariest that this
lot (Marvel) have made," Cumberbatch said of the new film.
The movie sees Doctor Stephen Strange, played by Cumberbatch,
traveling into the multiverse, a realm of infinite parallel
universes that each operate in a different reality.
The multiverse allows 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," director Sam Raimi said.
In the film, Strange comes to the aid of America Chavez (Xochitl
Gomez) who is being pursued for her ability to cross the
multiverse. Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda, with her own mystical
powers, also appears.
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."
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 refers to having 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.
Cumberbatch said it was "disappointing" to hear the scene had
caused a backlash.
"It's just mind-boggling that we're still talking about it, but
here we are and I hope somehow fans of the film in Saudi Arabia
of every sexuality are able to see it at some point somehow," he
said.
(Reporting by Rollo Ross; Writing by Lisa Richwine; Editing by
Chris Reese)
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