Marvel Studios has announced that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the official title for the Sorcerer Supreme’s next solo film. Benedict Cumberbatch first assumed the role of Dr. Stephen Strange in 2016’s Doctor Strange before later appearing alongside the rest of the MCU in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. This sequel will pick up with Strange following the events of Endgame and will see him begin more deeply exploring the mysteries of the multiverse.
Joining Cumberbatch in the sequel is Elizabeth Olson as Scarlet Witch, a role which has been revealed as connecting directly to the upcoming Disney+ series, WandaVision. That series is thought to take place in an alternate universe, in which case, a Doctor Strange movie that involves exploring the multiverse is the perfect film for a crossover. Details remain sparse, but Kevin Feige explained during the Hall H panel that what happens in WandaVision will connect directly to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ main story line.
It was during the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con that the full title was revealed as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which gives at least some hint at what the sequel film could be about. Doctor Strange director, Scott Derrickson is also back to the helm the sequel, describing the film as the “first scary movie in the MCU.” It is currently slated to release on May 7, 2021.
The MCU’s multiverse sort of had a role in Spider-Man: Far From Home, with Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio claiming to come from the Earth of another universe. He turned out to be lying about that, but the multiverse does still exist in the MCU. In the first Doctor Strange movie, it’s mentioned that their reality is just one of many, and since Doctor Strange 2 is being described as MCU’s first horror movie, it appears that exploring these many realities will be a nightmarish endeavor.
Earlier, Derrickson had expressed interest in bringing the villain, Nightmare into the sequel, which if so, would fit well with the film’s purported horror elements. He also mentioned bringing in Clea - a sorceress who becomes a student of Strange’s and, eventually, his lover - into the MCU as well. It’s unclear just now if either character will actually in appear in Doctor Strange 2, especially with Scarlet Witch seemingly filling the role of Strange’s pupil (though certainly not lover) in the sequel. But whatever secrets are in store for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it’s sure to be a wildly fantastical ride through different realities of the MCU.
Next: Why Marvel Didn’t Announce Plans For 2022 Or Beyond At SDCC
Source: Marvel Studios
