The censorship board of Saudi Arabaia wants Disney to cut the LGBTQ references from the upcoming film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness/Doctor Strange 2. The studio and Marvel by extension has refused to do so, at this point in time.

A report from Agence France-Presse (via The Guardian) said that Saudi Arabia’s general supervisor of cinema classification Nawaf Alsabhan requested the removal of “12 seconds”. To find out more about the scene, I’ll have to put a spoiler warning here for courtesy’s sake.

The bit the Saudi Arabian censors want to cut is when new superhero America Chavez/soon-to-be Miss America (Xochitl Gomez) talks about her “two moms”. Alsabshan said:

“It’s just her talking about her moms, because she has two moms. And being in the Middle East, it’s very tough to pass something like this. We sent it to the distributor, and the distributor sent it to Disney, and Disney has told us they are not willing.”

Alsabshan also shut down rumours about the show being banned in the country and in Kuwait.

“It will never be banned. There’s no reason to ban the film. It’s a simple edit… So far, they have refused. But we haven’t closed the door. We’re still trying.”

At this time of writing, Doctor Strange 2 ticket sales are being halted in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, though they’re still available and moving in United Arab Emirates. If it’s anything like how Saudi Arabia treated the screening of Eternals (no screening at all), Marvel fans in those countries may have to steel themselves for disappointment.

Doctor Strange 2 will be shown in theatres worldwide on 4 May. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Chiwetel Eijiofor as Baron Mordor, and Benedict Wong as Sorcerer Supreme Wong. Sam Raimi will direct the film.