Our first tryst with MCU’s multiverse on the silver screen was a tad bit nostalgic, as Spider-Man doused us in the right amounts of warmth, sorrow, and cameos.
But don’t expect the multiverse to be this kind to us always. Proving this is the gothic tale of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Benedict Cumberbatch may have sounded smug for saying that Doctor Strange 2 is as big a deal as No Way Home, but I don’t think he’s wrong.
Just the sheer number of actors, characters, and plotlines attached to this movie is simply incredible. Given how it ties in with both WandaVision and Loki makes it even bigger than ever. So, let’s dive right in!
Plot
Despite getting quite a few clips of Doctor Strange 2, we don’t know for sure what the movie is about. Here’s what we think is the setup.
I. Did NWH’s spell fail?
Although Strange managed to avert one multiverse crisis at the end of NWH, it clearly did not solve all problems. Is Doctor Strange 2 dealing with the direct consequences of NWH? Was there some gap that Strange overlooked while finishing up Peter’s spell that came to bite him back?
But let’s consider this—the NWH spell worked. It’s sealed, done, and not the cause of Strange’s new multiverse problems. This leaves us with a few more possibilities:
- Strange began messing with the multiverse on his own.
- Loki’s TVA arc comes into play.
- Wanda practicing her chaos magic has opened up the multiverse.
II. The Multiverse Is Here. Now what?
There’s certainly a team that wants to get rid of all things multiverse and there’s a team that thinks that the multiverse could be a good idea if handled well. I know for sure that Karl Mordo is on the former team as he wants to maintain an ethical equilibrium, which means shutting down the multiverse.
Although Strange may be against the perils of the multiverse, he’s not against the concept itself. So, he’ll try to deal with the threats while trying to find a way to control the multiverse.
Do expect to see other “versions” of characters in the movie. We already know about Strange Supreme’s appearance, but certain rumors have it that different versions of Christine and Wanda may also show up.
As the Doctor himself said, we know shockingly little about the multiverse, so all the upcoming movies (like Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy) will keep expanding on it, bringing in new characters, storylines, and threats. Strange may be able to resolve his own multiverse threats, but there’s a lot more of the multiverse we’re yet to see.
III. Who’s the movie’s real villain?
So far we have two obvious antagonists: Mordo and Strange Supreme. Mordo’s intentions seem very clear and his reasons for stopping Strange are valid as well. But we’re still in the dark about what Strange Supreme wants.
In the What If…? version, Supreme’s quest for power lied in the fact that he wanted to go back and change his fate with Christine. It was one of my favorite episodes in the series, which is why I don’t want to see the story repeated in the movie.
But there are rumors that it is the Scarlet Witch who will end up going rogue. Now, that would make for a really interesting twist! After all, this Wanda dialogue from the trailer cannot be for nothing:
“You break the rules and become a hero. I do it, I become the enemy.”
Wanda Maximoff
Characters Who Will Appear in Doctor Strange 2
Returning Doctor Strange characters include Karl Mordo, Wong, Christine Palmer, Nicodemus West, Hamir, and Daniel Drumm. From WandaVision, we also see kids Billy and Tommy.
Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez will be the newest superhero to be introduced into the MCU. She’s known for her ability to travel through dimensions by punching open doorways. Yup, she’s that strong.
Speculations about the Illuminati
The second Doctor Strange 2 trailer teased us with Patrick Stewart’s voice, who’s now confirmed in the movie but in an undisclosed role. In all likelihood, he will return as the beloved Professor X.
(This is fitting, since the comic House of M, that WandaVision has taken inspiration from, has him in a significant role as well).
So, are we going to see the Illuminati? For those who are unaware of this Marvel counterpart, the Illuminati is a secret organization of the most powerful superheroes, of which Xavier and Strange were part.
In the movie, it seems like there’s a group besides Mordo that’s trying to capture and restrain Strange. This could be the Illuminati headed by Professor X.
Wishful rumors suggest that members of the Illuminati that may appear in Doctor Strange include Haley Atwell’s Captain Carter, Tom Cruise, John Krasinski, and Lyshana Lynch.
Release Date
Now to the important part—Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will release on May 6. At 126 minutes, it’s one of Marvel’s longest movies.
If you want to watch it on the opening weekend itself, I suggest having a look at the pre-order tickets that have already gone on sale!
About Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the sequel to the 2016 movie Doctor Strange. The film is directed by Sam Raimi with a screenplay by Jade Bartlett and Michael Waldron.
It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Xochitl Gomez.
The sequel revolves around the dangerous consequences of Doctor Strange opening the multiverse.
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