‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’: What’s happened to the series?
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently filming. The journey to get there, however, has definitely been a long one. From getting a new director to having to pause filming due to COVID, the journey for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness heading to our screens has been arduous to say the least. While 2016’s Doctor Strange was just . . . okay. The second film has promise.
Mainly promise of going absolutely insane, if we’re being honest. After the tease of the multiverse that was Spider-Man: Far From Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises to give us the MCU version of the multiverse. We’re embracing it. We’re loving it. We’re here for it. Let’s go into details about it.
Sam Raimi is set to direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Usually, when Marvel matches a director to a franchise, they tend to stick around, like Jon Watts to the Spider-Man franchise. It looked like it was going to be the same with Scott Derrickson (Sinister) & Doctor Strange. Given how weird Doctor Strange can get, pairing the franchise with a horror movie director makes sense. Now 2016’s Doctor Strange was solid so Derrickson was brought back for the sequel.
Due to “creative differences”, Derrickson stepped down from the project in Jan. 2020. Shortly after, however, it was announced that Sam Raimi, who helmed the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies and brought us the Evil Dead was brought on to direct. Honestly? Given how weird we’re hoping things get in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? It’s a great choice to see.
Raimi is great at making things weird. He has experience directing superhero movies that audiences love. Plus, it’s a sequel. Spider-Man 2 is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time, thanks, in part, to Raimi. It’s all comin’ together for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Particularly if they build off of WandaVision, which connects in an interesting way.
WandaVision leads into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Elizabeth Olsen is full serious business Scarlet Witch now after the events of WandaVision. In the post-post credit scene for the series, we see her studying the Darkhold when she hears Billy & Tommy calling for her from somewhere in the void. Presumably that’s when she’ll join in for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Olsen said that she made sure to bring Wanda in from the perspective of that series.
It makes sense as well. So it will be great to see how, exactly, WandaVision connects with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Given that, well, it’s the multiverse. We’re wondering if we’ll see different versions of our favorite characters in some series cameos, you know?
The cast of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Olsen is joined by Benedict Cumberbatch, who has to be doing double-duty on Marvel sets in between filming his own movie and wrapping his role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, where he takes the mentor role for Peter Parker (Tom Holland) in that film. Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, and Chiwetel Ejiofor are also confirmed to reprise their roles as Wong, Christine Palmer, and Karl Mordo respectively.
The biggest, and most interesting bit of casting news for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez. America Chavez is a Latinx LGBT+ hero, largely associated with the Young Avengers, who has superstrength, durability, and flight. What’s really cool, however, is that she can open star shape holes in reality allowing her and companions to travel through the multiverse.
Basically, this is the best film to introduce America in.
Anything else?
Filming for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness began in London in Nov. 2020, but had to be shut down in Jan. 2021 due to a positive COVID-19 test on set. It resumed in March 2021 and the planned release date for the film is March 25, 2022.
