Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a 2022 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Doctor Strange. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to Doctor Strange (2016) and the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Sam Raimi, written by Michael Waldron, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams. In the film, Strange protects America Chavez (Gomez), a teenager capable of travelling the multiverse, from Wanda Maximoff (Olsen).
Plot[]
America Chavez and an alternate version of Dr. Stephen Strange are chased by a demon in the space between universes while looking for the Book of Vishanti. This Strange is killed and Chavez accidentally creates a portal that transports them to Earth-616, where this universe's Strange rescues Chavez from an octopus demon with help from the Sorcerer Supreme, Wong. Chavez explains that the demons are hunting her because she has the power to travel through the multiverse.
Recognizing runes of witchcraft on the demons, Strange consults Wanda Maximoff and realizes that she is responsible for them. Since acquiring the Darkhold and becoming the Scarlet Witch, Maximoff believes that controlling the multiverse with Chavez's power will allow her to reunite with Billy and Tommy, the children she created during her time in Westview. When Strange refuses to surrender Chavez, Maximoff attacks Kamar-Taj, killing many sorcerers. Chavez accidentally transports herself and Strange across the multiverse to Earth-838. Maximoff uses the Darkhold to "dream-walk" into the body of her Earth-838 counterpart, who lives a suburban life with her own Billy and Tommy. A surviving sorceress sacrifices herself to destroy the Darkhold and break the dream-walk. Maximoff then forces Wong to lead her to Mount Wundagore, the source of the Darkhold's power.
While searching for help, Strange and Chavez are arrested by Earth-838's Sorcerer Supreme, Karl Mordo, and brought before the Illuminati, a secret society consisting of Mordo, Captain Peggy Carter, King Blackagar Boltagon, Captain Maria Rambeau, Doctor Reed Richards, and Professor Charles Xavier. They explain that through reckless use of their universe's Darkhold, Earth-838's Strange triggered and barely averted a universe-destroying "incursion". They decided to kill him to prevent him from causing more harm, and Mordo believes that Earth-616's Strange is similarly dangerous. Before they can pass judgment, Maximoff re-establishes her dream-walk using the power at Mount Wundagore and arrives in her Earth-838 counterpart's body. She kills all of the Illuminati except Mordo. Strange and Chavez escape with help from the Earth-838 counterpart of Strange's ex-fiancé Christine Palmer, a scientist working with the Illuminati.
Strange, Chavez, and Palmer enter the space between universes to find the Book of Vishanti, which is the antithesis to the Darkhold, but Maximoff appears and takes over Chavez's mind, using her powers to send the others to an incursion-destroyed universe. On Earth-616, Maximoff begins the spell to take Chavez's powers. Strange defeats the destroyed universe's Strange, who has been corrupted by his universe's Darkhold, and then uses this Darkhold to dream-walk into the corpse of the alternate Strange who was with Chavez earlier. Controlling the corpse, Strange saves Chavez with Wong from Maximoff and then encourages Chavez to use her abilities; Chavez transports Maximoff to Earth-838, where she sees Billy and Tommy recoil from her in fear and cry for their real mother. Maximoff relents, and uses her powers to bring down Mount Wundagore, destroying all copies of the Darkhold throughout the multiverse and seemingly sacrificing herself in the process. Before Palmer returns to Earth-838, Strange tells her that he still loves his universe's Palmer but is too scared to have a real relationship.
Sometime later, the damage that Maximoff did to Kamar-Taj is repaired as the surviving sorcerers continue training, joined by Chavez. Strange develops a third eye as a result of using the Darkhold and dream-walking into a corpse. In a mid-credits scene, Strange is approached by a sorceress who warns him that his actions have triggered an incursion that he must help stop. Strange follows her into the Dark Dimension.
Cast[]
- Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange / Stephen Strange/Defender Strange / Stephen Strange/Supreme Strange / Stephen Strange/Sinister Strange
- Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch / Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo/Baron Mordo
- Benedict Wong as Master Wong
- Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez
- Rachel McAdams as Doctor Christine Palmer / Christine Palmer
- Michael Stuhlbarg as Doctor Nicodemus West
- Sheila Atim as Sara
- Adam Hugill as Rintrah
- Ako Mitchell as Charlie
- Momo Yeung as Hong Kong Master
- Daniel Swain as London Master
- Topo Wresniwiro as Master Hamir
- Jett Klyne as Tommy Maximoff
- Julian Hilliard as Billy Maximoff
- Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X
- John Krasinski as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic
- Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambeau/Captain Marvel
- Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter/Captain Carter
- Anson Mount as Blackagar Boltagon/Black Bolt
- Ruth Livier as Elena Chavez
- Chess Lopez as Amalia Chavez
- Bruce Campbell as Pizza Poppa
- Charlize Theron as Clea (mid-credits scene)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the twenty eight film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- This was the fourth highest grossing film of 2022.
- This is the live action debut of America Chavez.
- This is the first film directed by Sam Raimi since Oz: the Great and Powerful (2013).
- This is Sam Raimi's first superhero film since Spider-Man 3 (2007).
- Xochitl Gomez was only 13 when she first auditioned for the role of the teen superhero, America.
- Scarlet Witch is the first superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to serve as the main antagonist in a movie/show, While Loki can now be considered a hero due to his redemption, he was an antagonist before he became a hero.
- Michael Waldron said there were talks for Ryan Reynolds to cameo as Deadpool, but the idea was dropped because "It just didn't feel like the right place."
- The film's first teaser debuted as a post-credits scene for Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), saying at the end, "Doctor Strange Will Return". A week after the film's release, on December 22, 2021, the teaser trailer was released online but at the end it stated the film's title.
- Black Bolt's outfit was entirely CGI.
- Following Scott Derrickson's departure as director, Rachel McAdams initially revealed that she would not reprise her role as Christine Palmer from Doctor Strange (2016). When the film's main cast and director were officially announced at Disney's 2020 Investor Event, it was confirmed that McAdams would indeed return for the film.
- Early drafts also expanded the relationship between Wong and Sara into something of a love story, but that was cut along the way.
- When asked on Twitter, Scott Derrickson (director of the first Doctor Strange (2016), and who was also slated to direct this film before bowing out due to creative differences) expressed interest and excitement for this film, declaring that Sam Raimi "was the right director for this one, just as The Black Phone was the right film for me to go make".
- Wanda is first shown in Universe 838, and the home is based on her home in WandaVision (2021).
- The film got banned in Saudi Arabia due to America Chavez' parents being a lesbian couple (two mothers).
- Before Danny Elfman was even brought on officially as the film's composer he gave them war drums to play on set "so that we can really amp the energy." Sam Raimi explained.
- Storyboards by Soren Bendt Aaboe Pedersen revealed that there were plans for a version of Iron Monger, previously played by Jeff Bridges in Iron Man (2008), to appear as part of the Illuminati.
- Following Scott Derrickson 's departure as director, Rachel McAdams intially revealed that she would not reprise her role as Christine Palmer from Doctor Strange. When the film's main cast and director were officially announced at Disney's 2020 Investor Event, it was confirmed that McAdams would indeed return for the film.
- Sam Raimi was worried that audiences would be confused about the souls of the damned and why they're attacking Dead Strange, but he wanted the character to have his own antagonists.
- Screenwriter Michael Waldron had full access to the scripts for WandaVision (2021) while writing this film, but for Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) he found "there was a lot of secrecy." Both play major roles leading into this film.
- The studio was at first interested in Lily Resto or Isabela Merced to play America Chavez, but Xochitl Gomez was ultimately cast.
- Producer Richie Palmer says the America Chavez character is one they've wanted to introduce into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over a decade.
- Sam Raimi was 62 at the time of this film's release, making him the oldest person to direct an MCU film. The previous record holder was Joe Johnston, who was 61 at the time of Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)'s release.
- The film and its title were announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con (and the day after Benedict Cumberbatch's birthday).
- It was rumored that Tom Cruise would appear as the the villainous version of Iron Man known as Superior Iron Man as part of the Illuminati, since Cruise was originally in the running to play the character in Iron Man (2008) before Robert Downey Jr. was cast. Michael Waldron liked the idea, but Cruise was never approached due to his commitments filming Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - Part One (2023) and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - Part Two (2024).
- Gomez wanted to remain faithful to the source material despite playing a younger version of the character than is seen in the comics, and said her journey in the film begins with the character having been alone for a long time and "running away from her uniqueness".
- Sam Raimi initially didn't want to direct any future superhero films, having lost faith in himself due to the critical and audience backlash he received from Spider-Man 3 (2007) due to studio interference from Sony. However, getting the call from his agent about this film encouraged him to try again, as he had thoroughly enjoyed the first Doctor Strange film (as well as the character himself) and wanted to see if he could live up to the challenge of meeting the audience's expectations once again.
- Early in the film, With Strange and Wong in tow, Gargantos scales a building to go after Chavez. It s the same building (although from a different side) that Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man fought on in Spider-Man 2 (2004). ...in 'another' universe.
- Benedict Cumberbatch revealed in an interview that Benedict Wong broke about four ribs when he slammed into something during a stunt.
- Elizabeth Olsen flew to London to work on this film just two days after she finished filming WandaVision (2021).
- Elizabeth Olsen was largely unaware of the Multiverse of Madness story while filming WandaVision (2021) and tried to ensure Maximoff's role in the film honored the events of the series rather than having the series be affected by the film.
- According to director Sam Raimi, almost 40 minutes of additional scenes were cut from the film during post-production.
- Benedict Cumberbatch grew out Doctor Strange's goatee for real in this film, rather than merely putting on a fake one as seen in his previous appearances.
- Sam Raimi has observed that due to the chaotic production process, he and the screenwriters essentially figured out the movie during filming, with the ending being conceptualized about halfway through the shoot.
- This movie was originally meant to be before Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) before the COVID-19 Pandemic forced the schedules to be altered and for this movie to ultimately come after it.
- The film is tied into and takes place after WandaVision (2021) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
- Scott Derrickson, director of the previous film Doctor Strange (2016), was set to return. However, due to creative differences with Marvel, he stepped down. He stays as the film's executive producer.
- First time where Mordo is identified by his full name: Karl Mordo.
- Kevin Feige told them as much as he loved hearing Black Bolt's name mentioned in early conversations, he wasn't sure that Wanda was powerful enough to defeat him as all he needs to do is open his mouth. Sam Raimi riffed instantly "what mouth?" This obviously made it into the script.
- Director Sam Raimi previously added two references to the character Doctor Strange in Spider-Man 2 (2004):
- Joe's Pizza (where Peter Parker is working at the beginning) and the billboard showing Mary Jane are located on Bleecker Street (where Doctor Strange's Sanctum Santorum is located).
- The name of Doctor Strange is suggested to J. Jonah Jameson as a possible name for Dr. Octavius, to which Jameson replies: "But it's taken!"
| Doctor Strange |
|---|
| Doctor Strange (2016), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) |
| Phase Four |
|---|
| Black Widow (2021), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Eternals (2021), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) |