A poster for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that was issued in Italy was changed because it depicted a hand gesture that many in the nation found offensive.

A user on Reddit (via CBR) shared a poster for the upcoming Marvel Studios film that shows Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) making a hand gesture with his left hand that is similar to what most Americans would recognize as “rock and roll” or “rock on,” as opposed to the Italian version, which has changed the hand gesture entirely because the “rock on” gesture is offensive in Italy.

The initial gesture— “the horns”— appears to have varied meanings throughout Italy and the Mediterranean area, depending on how the hand is positioned.

The gesture with fingers angled downwards and not directed at another person, is used to ward off bad luck or “the evil eye.”

However, when pointed upward (as it is in the poster), or aggressively at another person, it is considered an offensive way to call someone a “cuckold.” If you’re not familiar with the word, it refers to men whose spouses have been unfaithful sexually. Naturally, Marvel wants to make sure that no one misinterprets their poster.

This is definitely not the situation in other countries; in the United States and other English-speaking countries, this hand signal has been synonymous with heavy metal since the 1980s.

As far as Doctor Strange sequel posters go, Marvel has released the official IMAX poster for the film. In the broken glass motif utilized in previous marketing materials, Doctor Strange’s visage is crucial to the image, with multiple reflections of the character, as well as Wanda Maximoff, displayed in the shards. The film’s advance tickets went on sale this week, and in only the first 20 hours, it shattered Fandango’s 2022 advance ticket sales record.

In a statement, Erik Davis, Fandango Managing Editor, stated, “The epic first day of presales for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness proves fans are beyond excited to experience all the thrills, chills, and blockbuster surprises Marvel Studios is known to deliver.”

In January 2021, substantial reshoots for Multiverse of Madness were completed, with extra material directed by Sam Raimi and Loki writer Michael Waldron. Scott Derrickson, who directed the first picture and left the sequel due to creative disputes, was replaced by Raimi. After the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it was claimed that Multiverse of Madness will have “more fun with the multiverse,” with reshoots involving even more appearances and character introductions than initially planned.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the highly anticipated sequel to Doctor Strange, will be released in theaters on May 4, 2022.