Few can outclass Doctor Strange, but one surprising hero, Man-Thing, was able to take the Sorcerer Supreme down to the wire. In a two-part crossover event in 1980’s Man-Thing #4 and Doctor Strange #41, Strange’s long-time nemesis, Baron Mordo, attempted to use Man-Thing as a pawn, throwing him at Doctor Strange as a distraction–and the creature proved more than a match, countering Strange’s spells at every turn and using physical prowess to dominate the Sorcerer Supreme.
Long regarded as “Marvel’s Swamp Thing” due to similarities in origin and gimmick between the two, Man-Thing has proven to be a compelling character in his own right. While researching a potential replacement for the Super Soldier Serum, scientist Ted Sallis was attacked by agents of A.I.M. Injecting himself with the Serum, Sallis fled his attackers; however, his car crashed into the Everglades, and a unique synthesis between the Serum and the magical forces in the swamp turned him into Man-Thing. Unlike Swamp Thing, Man-Thing cannot communicate verbally, instead silently shambling through the Everglades; Man-Thing is also an empath, and certain emotions, namely fear, can provoke strong reactions in the creature. As the guardian of the Nexus of All Realities, Man-Thing is an immensely powerful being, and his power was on display during his first encounter with Doctor Strange.
In Man-Thing #4 and Doctor Strange #41 by Chris Claremont, Gene Colan, Bob Wiacek, and Don Perlin Baron Mordo enacts his final revenge on Doctor Strange, a plan that involves sacrificing individuals with magical powers. Strange is drawn to the Everglades, where he and his associates are ambushed by Man-Thing, who has come under Mordo’s control. Doctor Strange attempts to restrain the beast with the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak–but Man-Thing tears right through them. Strange is amazed, wondering how the creature could have countered the spell so fast. The two continue to fight, with Man-Thing getting the upper hand; Strange then lets loose a fire spell, surmising it would destroy the creature. Instead, Man-Thing is barely phased, and he is able to overpower Strange. As Mordo’s scheme draws closer to fruition, Jennifer Kale, a sorceress and confidant of Man-Thing, persuades the creature that he has been duped by Mordo. Man-Thing turns on Baron Mordo, and helps Strange defeat him. As the dust settles, Doctor Strange attempts to magically turn Man-Thing back into a human–but once again, his magic has no effect on the creature. The story was written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Gene Colan, Bob Wiacek and Don Perlin.
As Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange is one of the planet’s most powerful beings, and has turned back mystical menaces of all types–yet all of his power is useless against Man-Thing. Baron Mordo saw the creature’s raw power and strength, and co-opted it for his own ends. Mordo’s strategy proved an effective one, as Man-Thing was able to instinctively counter every spell Doctor Strange threw at him. Mordo was using Man-Thing to wear Strange down and eventually kill him–and it almost worked. Perhaps the saddest aspect of the story is that Strange was unable to give Man-Thing his one wish: be human again. The story remained mum on just exactly how Man-Thing was able to resist Strange’s magic, but the Sorcerer Supreme speculated it may have been due to the mixture of science and sorcery that created the creature.
Man-Thing is one of Marvel’s most enigmatic heroes, an empathic monster created by science and magic. He is also one of Marvel’s most powerful, as shown when he vastly outclassed Doctor Strange.
The mystical Doctor Strange shares many similarities with Iron Man, but the biggest difference between the two characters is actually a problem for the MCU – and Phase 4 proves it. Since Stephen Strange's first appearance in the MCU, it has been impossible not to notice the similarities between the character and Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, both in terms of personality and role in the Marvel universe. With Iron Man dead after sacrificing himself in Avengers: Endgame, there is now a vacuum in the MCU regarding who the new face of the franchise will be, and Doctor Strange is one strong contender.
Doctor Strange, the first Doctor Strange film in the MCU, follows a structure very similar to that of Iron Man. Strange is portrayed as an egocentric, often selfish person who, despite being a doctor, was more interested in being the best in his field than in necessarily saving lives. Similar to what happened with Tony Stark after being kidnapped, the accident that cost Stephen Strange's career also put him on a path of self-discovery and redemption, leading to the birth of the sorcerer Doctor Strange.
The journey from a narcissist to one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the strong personality, the cutting sense of humor, and the popularity of the actor who plays the character are all some of the key similarities between Doctor Strange and Iron Man. However, one major difference is that, so far, Strange is being treated more as a plot device than as a true character. While Tony Stark had a lot of screen time in the MCU, including in a Spider-Man film and a Captain America film, each of his appearances evolved the character in some way. However, for Doctor Strange, it has been the other way around – the character is being used to advance the plot. The Avengers: Infinity War's long-term plan to defeat Thanos, the Spider-Man: No Way Home's memory spell, and the setup of incursions in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness all had crucial importance to the MCU, and yet those did nothing to evolve Doctor Strange as a character.
Why The MCU Needs To Change How It Treats Doctor Strange
For comparison, Iron Man's role in Captain America: Civil War served to show how much the events of The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron had changed the way Tony Stark perceived the matter of superheroes dealing with national security, while Strange's role in No Way Home was limited to performing the memory spell. If Marvel wants Doctor Strange to take on the role of Iron Man in the MCU, then the character should be treated with the same dept as Tony Stark did. That is not to say Doctor Strange cannot continue to be important to the MCU's Phase 4 plan, especially now that incursions and the multiverse are set to be the next major saga, only that those lore-heavy storylines should be followed by a solid character arc. Strange's happiness and fears were discussed in Doctor Strange 2, but only on a superficial level.
What made Iron Man so special in the MCU was not his role in major events like the Battle of New York and the final fight against Thanos, but rather how well developed the character was over the course of ten years. Doctor Strange has been part of the franchise for more than six years, and yet he's still far from being as well developed as Iron Man. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for Doctor Strange 3 to happen, and if the film, unlike Strange's role in Phase 4, will focus more on the character than on the plot.
The MCU has always been a PG-13 fun for all the family franchise, on the big screen at least. With TV series such as Daredevil and Agents of SHIELD having taken the MCU outside its comfort zone into violent and mature content, fans have become increasingly enamored with bringing R-ratings to the universe, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is no exception.
Ever since its announcement, the Multiverse-hopping sequel has been promised to be the MCU's first horror film, and the trailers have certainly lived up to that. Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man director Sam Raimi is on board to direct which couldn't be more fitting given his history with both superhero and horror genres.
Doctor Strange 2 Rating Promises Frightening Scenes
Marvel
According to Film Ratings, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness officially received a PG-13 rating with a warning of frightening imagery.
The PG-13 rating highlights "frightening images," along with violence and occasional language:
"Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, frightening images, and some language."
The promise of "intense sequences of violence and action" and "some language" is nothing new for the MCU, with similar warnings given for Black Widow, Shang-Chi, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Will Doctor Strange 2 Push the Limits of PG-13?
Director Sam Raimi has a long-standing reputation in the horror genre for throwing plenty of blood and gore in the mix. That obviously won't be possible with Multiverse of Madness' PG-13 rating, but that doesn't mean the director won't push the rating to its limits.
While Marvel Studios may currently be sticking to its PG-13 guns that have made the MCU so popular, there is plenty of opportunity for more mature content down the line. Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool 3 has already been confirmed to be R-rated and to be taking place in the MCU, and Netflix characters like Daredevil may go down the same path when they eventually lead solo projects once again.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is less than a month away, and all eyes are on one of the biggest projects in MCU history. It was recently revealed that the runtime for the Doctor Strange sequel is not only shorter than expected, but it is also significantly shorter than any other "event" movie in the MCU. Fans are concerned that this short runtime could rush a plot that is almost inherently complex.
The other "event" level movies in the MCU (Infinity War, Endgame, Civil War, No Way Home, etc.) all have an average runtime of roughly two and a half hours (152 minutes to be exact). Multiverse of Madness is coming in at 126 minutes. Virtually 20% shorter than the aforementioned average. With the synopsis promising multiple versions of characters, a deep look into the MCU's multiverse, and universe-changing outcomes, how can all of that get the time it deserves in 30 fewer minutes?
Well, there are a few different things about this movie specifically that make that shorter runtime not only make sense but also point to this movie being better for it. The director plays a huge role in this. A handful of main characters have been active in the MCU, not just since 2016's Doctor Strange, but in multiple recent projects. And there is arguably been no movie in MCU history that has been given as much primer in the year leading up to it as Multiverse of Madness.
Here are a few reasons that the short runtime of Multiverse of Madness should not be a cause for concern.
A Sam Raimi Film
Marvel
Sam Raimi is making his triumphant return to the comic book movie genre, and he is bringing his film-making history with him. Raimi is best known for either his early 2000s Spider-Man franchise or his cult-classic horror film catalog. Regardless, Raimi has never made a film longer than 140 minutes. Ironically, that film was Spider-Man 3, a movie that revisionist critics say packs too much into one movie.
The average runtime for a Sam Raimi joint is 113 minutes. Making Multiverse of Madness is 13 minutes longer than the Raimi average, and his 5th longest movie of all time.
Kevin Feige was very involved in the trailblazing Spider-Man trilogy that Raimi directed from 2002 to 2007. He knows him well and would not have brought him in to handle arguably the most important film of Phase 4 if he did not trust him to handle the job. With Sam Raimi comes a shorter runtime than the average MCU film.
This is the first and most foundational sign that 126 minutes is an appropriate amount of time for Doctor Strange 2, but far from the last.
So Earth Has Wizards Now?
Marvel
Doctor Stephen Strange is one of the most efficient characters in MCU history. He has had one solo movie and is arguably one of the most fleshed-out players active on the MCU roster. In fact, that solo movie comes in at 115 minutes. And while Multiverse of Madness has the challenge of diving into the multiverse, balancing multiple big characters, and any potential cameos, Doctor Strange explained magic in the MCU in 11 fewer minutes.
Since his origin story nearly 6 years ago, Doctor Strange has made many impactful appearances in other MCU projects. He cameos in Thor: Ragnarok to display his growth as a wizard and explain his role as Sorcerer Supreme. He has the fifth most screen time in Avengers: Infinity War. He makes his presence felt in Avengers: Endgame as the catalyst for arguably the greatest scene in comic book movie history. And just 5 months ago, he was a major player in the biggest movie since Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home.
All this leads to virtually an entire movie's worth of development for the character since fans last saw him in his origin story. Unlike most movie characters who receive a sequel, there is significantly less catching up to do with Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange 2.
Meaning that once the theaters hit play on Multiverse of Madness, Sam Raimi and co. will be able to hit the ground running with their lead character. And that sentiment does not stop with Doctor Strange.
We Know Exactly Who Wanda Is
Marvel
Wanda Maximoff has gone from villainous sidekick to New Avenger, to emotional core, to one of the biggest names in the MCU. She is now primed to have her biggest role yet on the big screen as the pseudo lead of Multiverse of Madness. A lesser studio might have seen the name "Scarlett Witch", known how much fans love the character in the comics and thrown her into this sort of spotlight right away. But that is not the Marvel Studios MO.
The key to so much success in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is patience. Fans had to wait for Cap to pick up Mjolnir, and it was worth it. Fans watched Peter Parker for 5 years before he heard "with great power, must also come great responsibility", and it was worth it. Now Wanda Maximoff has been through the wringer, lost everyone she loves, suffered and battled grief, and has finally become the Scarlett Witch. It seems like it is going to be worth it.
Elizabeth Olsen was given an entire series on Disney+ to develop her Wanda from C-list Avenger to an A-list fan favorite in the MCU. Fans have never been more in tune with this character, and it took no time at all for them to get excited about her role in the Doctor Strange sequel after WandaVision came to a close.
With so much time with audiences just a little more than a year ago, Wanda will need no introduction in Multiverse of Madness. When fans are so close to a project featuring a character, there is not as much need for dedicated runtime to establish the dynamics on screen. This is the second major player in this movie who is ready to hit the ground running, and again, not the last.
Wong: Friend, Trainer, Sorcerer Supreme
Marvel
In the same vein as Doctor Strange, Wong has been busy since his debut in 2016's Doctor Strange. While he has never been spotlighted as a major piece of any MCU movie's puzzle since his cameos have told a story of Wong that has given him significant character development.
He played a role in Infinity War and Endgame protecting the world and universe from the attack of Thanos. He appears in Shang-Chi not just as a recruiter for the Avengers, but also as an underground MCU fight club participant. And in Spider-Man: No Way Home it was revealed that Wong has taken over the title of Sorcerer Supreme ever since the snap.
So, while it has not ALL been shown on screen, fans who have seen the entirety of the MCU know that this Wong in Multiverse of Madness is a very different Wong than the librarian they met in 2016. This may seem less significant than Strange and Wanda's development heading into this movie, but this is a game of inches.
When you are able to take such a big player in the Doctor Strange franchise and throw him into a sequel already more established than when fans last saw him in that franchise, you are saving valuable minutes to focus on the plot and story. With Multiverse of Madness being 30 minutes shorter than the average MCU "event" movie, every minute is precious and Wong's established role in the MCU will be a significant advantage for Raimi.
The Multiverse is a Concept Fans Are At Least Aware Of
Marvel
When the runtime for Multiverse of Madness was released, the majority of concerning comments were along the lines of "how can you explain the multiverse in that amount of time?". Which is a valid concern. Except for the fact that Phase 4 has dedicated 40% of its projects so far to building up the idea of the multiverse in the MCU.
It began in the WandaVision finale with Wanda peering through the Dark Hold, and then promptly hearing the voices of her non-existent children. Leading many fans to assume that she has tapped into the Multiverse in some way, shape, or form. This could explain why Doctor Strange goes to Wanda for multiversal advice. So, that is the first seed that was planted in the first project of Phase 4.
Then came Loki, which some could say acts as the prologue to Multiverse of Madness. Loki delivers the idea of multiple universes, the way the multiverse is supposed to run, and even how it has been broken from the norm. It explains the idea of variants, nexus events, and how one timeline can drastically affect another. And it even introduces He Who Remains, AKA Kang the Conqueror, a character from the comics synonymous with the multiverse and the weaving between different universes.
Loki was able to use all of those plot points as the narrative for the MCU's most-watched Disney+, while simultaneously planting seeds for Multiverse of Madness. It was written by the same writer as Loki, Michael Waldron.
Moving on to What If…?, this is a series that is essentially dedicated to making fans comfortable with the idea of the multiverse. Each episode features an alternate reality of an otherwise familiar MCU story or character. While it is unknown if anything from this series will be directly referenced or impacted by Multiverse of Madness, when you have something in canon making audiences comfortable with the idea of Multiverse, it means less work for Multiverse of Madness.
And finally, Spider-Man: No Way Home joins Loki as somewhat of a prelude to Doctor Strange 2, as it DIRECTLY works within the multiverse for the majority of the film. Variants, other universes, and cracks in the multiverse itself are all featured in one of the biggest movies of all time.
The concept of the Multiverse has been a major focus of the MCU ever since Phase 4 began. Multiverse of Madness will be able to take all of that setup and allocate that time to explaining as opposed to introducing. Which makes for good storytelling.
Multiverse of Madness Is Ready To Hit The Ground Running
Marvel
Think of Multiverse of Madness as a gourmet meal. Think of Sam Raimi and Michael Waldron as the master chefs. And think of WandaVision, Loki, What If..?, and No Way Home as the sous chefs.
The sous chef came in and prepared the ingredients for Doctor Strange, Wanda, and Wong. They have also preheated the idea of the Multiverse, so it is at the perfect temperature to be utilized. Now all Raimi and Waldron need to do is come in and start cooking. No prep is needed.
Sure, the master chefs could have prepped all the ingredients themselves and this gourmet meal could have been made in 2 hours and 30 minutes. But if everything is primed and ready to go, it is possible fans can get the same meal in just over 2 hours.
No one likes waiting LONGER for a gourmet meal. As long as the ingredients are properly prepared, and the oven is set to a perfect temperature, fans are able to enjoy a delicious dish while also not waiting too long for it to arrive.
Multiverse of Madness has a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Thankfully, it has a significant head start.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to push the concept of alternate realities into the forefront, with Benedict Cumberbatch's titular sorcerer at the center of it. Aside from Strange, the upcoming MCU sequel will feature new and returning allies, such as Benedict Wong's Wong, Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez, and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch. However, based on trailer footage, it seems that Wanda (or a version of Wanda) will be at the other end of the fight, meaning that Strange will have his hands full.
As the film's May release inches closer, marketing has been ramping up. From posters to official merchandise, the main characters that are heavily featured in the promotional push are Strange, Wanda, Wong, and Chavez, indicating that a good chunk of the movie will primarily focus on the four heroes.
While fans wait to see how the four characters will be utilized in the movie, a special look at these heroes has recently been unveiled. Doctor Strange's Allies Assemble
Shell Indonesia officially unveiled a new wave of promotional images for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, showcasing fresh looks at Benedict Cumberbatch's titular sorcerer alongside his allies.
The image is part of Shell Indonesia's special promo for its loyal customers, bringing an exclusive surprise on April 1 when they gas up for Shell V-Power products and register for Shell Go+.
A closer look at the image shows a detailed look at the costumes of Strange, Benedict Wong's Wong, Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez, and Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff:
Doctor Strange 2's Marketing Ramps Up
This latest poster shows the three magic users using their powers against an unknown threat, with America Chavez's ability noticeably absent.
This may have been intentional at Marvel's end. Although there is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot of Chavez's star portals in one of the trailers, the studio seems poised to ultimately unleash the young hero's powers in the sequel's premiere.
Based on what's been showcased in the film's marketing so far, Marvel is trying to indicate that the four heroes will eventually team up against a common threat at some point in the sequel. Previous evidence suggests that the Scarlet Witch is the main villain, but the film's use of the Multiverse presents many possibilities that could overturn this idea.
Multiverse of Madness was confirmed to have an evil Doctor Strange already, and the same could be true for Wanda Maximoff. There will likely be some kind of team-up among the four heroes in the latter part of the movie that could eventually defeat the evil Variants.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to premiere in theaters on May 6.
Spider-Man: No Way Home has been out in the world for a few months now, but audiences are still finding new things to love about it. The movie was a massive achievement, bringing together legacy Sony Spider-Man characters like Electro, Doc Ock, and Green Goblin alongside Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes like Wong and Doctor Strange.
Benedict Cumberbatch's appearance in the film as the (ex) Sorcerer Supreme ended up being a lot more than just a cameo appearance. Tom Holland's Peter Parker initially came to Doctor Strange to ask for help with a spell that would erase the world's knowledge of his identity as Spider-Man. While Strange agreed to do the spell, things didn't exactly go to plan and the duo spent the rest of the movie cleaning up the Multiversal mess the spell created.
While Strange spent a fair chunk of the movie angry at Parker, it was clear the two had clearly formed a strong bond by the end of the movie and their relationship was one of the more emotional arcs in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In a recent interview, Cumberbatch had a fair bit to say about Parker and Strange's relationship, even adding some wisdom of his own to their scenes during filming.
Benedict Cumberbatch Improvised On Spider-Man: No Way Home
In an interview with Collider, Benedict Cumberbatch spoke about his time on Spider-Man: No Way Home calling it a "terrific film" with a "humdinger" script.
The actor said he "knew it would be good" but was still surprised by just how big of a hit Spider-Man: No Way Home has become.
"The culmination of those first two films into the third, and those relationships and that triumvirate with those three actors, they’re so good. It was a brilliant set to be on. I knew it would be good. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m just astonished at quite how big a hit it is. I understand the love of it because not only is it Spidey, it’s a brilliant Spider-Man film."
Cumberbatch particularly praised director Jon Watts, saying he was very "detail-oriented" but appreciated that the director would "throw aside a piece of script" in order to find better story moments.
"He’s got such great taste. He’s very detail-orientated as well. He manages the tone so beautifully, all the time, and yet is still so nimble. Great directors are able to throw aside a piece of script or a big set piece and go, 'Oh, maybe that’s the story there.'"
The actor explained that one such moment that was changed on the fly occurred between Peter Parker and Doctor Strange at the end of the film.
Cumberbatch said that, during reshoots, he came up with an idea that would illustrate Strange's love for Peter by initially rejecting his sacrifice. Upon watching the improvisation, Watts immediately wanted it to be part of the final film.
"There was this one moment near the end of the film, where we were really trying to make that moment work, at the top of the Statue of Liberty. Tom [Holland] was having a tough time with the script, as it was before the reshoots. And then, we did the reshoots and I came up with this idea of, to show that I love him, I didn’t want him to make the sacrifice of being forgotten. He was like, 'That’s gonna be in the film.' And I was like, 'Okay, cool. That’s great.'"
Cumberbatch said he is usually "quite a canon guy" but that the freedom to improvise on Spider-Man: No way Home was "a real eye-opener".
You throw yourself out there in those huge sand pits. The remarkable thing I learned from Tom Holland and RDJ on Infinity War was seeing how at ease he was, just in improvising about Aunt May with Robert Downey Jr. He did this thing which wasn’t scripted at all. I’m quite a canon guy. It’s about the text for me. To be free with that and to have some maneuverability in it and to be able to improvise, and on such a large canvas, was a real eye-opener.
Doctor Strange and the Madness of Improvising
Fans will remember the scene that Cumberbatch is referring to as quite an emotional one between Doctor Strange and Peter Parker and a moment that shows just how far their relationship has come. To learn the scene was improvised adds an extra layer of sentimentality as it came from the actors themselves.
It's just one of many moments that were developed late in the game on Spider-Man: No Way Home. Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield admitted in interviews that he improvised the "I love you guys" line between the three Spider-Men, which has since become a fan-favorite moment. No Way Home writers Erik Sommers and Chris McKenna also revealed that the script was quite flexible with input from the actors being considered throughout development and filming.
Some of the MCU's best lines have been the result of actors' improvisations. Cumberbatch will next be seen as Stephen Strange in the sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will deal with the fallout of the events from Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now that the actor has had a chance to improvise a few lines of his own it will be interesting to see whether any moments in Multiverse of Madness are of his own creation.
Spider-Man: No Way Home may have been the first movie to bring Multiversal mayhem to the MCU, but it may be nothing compared to what's coming in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Marvel Studios' first theatrical film of the year will advance a number of stories within the franchise, which far exceeds Benedict Cumberbatch's master magician alone.
When the sequel was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, the only wild casting that fans found out about was Elizabeth Olsen's inclusion as Wanda Maximoff. Although her story was said to continue directly from the events of WandaVision, she would be the film's biggest new player alongside Doctor Strange, and they'd eventually have returning players Wong and Baron Mordo join the fray.
After that, this movie's story and cast list turned into...pun totally intended...madness.
The Multiverse became a reality after Tom Holland's Spider-Man threequel, which brought five past Spidey villains into the MCU along with both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's web-slingers. Now, the possibilities are endless for Doctor Strange 2.
With the movie set for release in May, the film's two full trailers and the Super Bowl TV spot have teased various potential heroes and villains that could play a role in the expansive plot. The promo material has led to confirmation and rumors pointing to appearances by plenty of classic Marvel characters from both the MCU and other adjacent universes.
With all that being said, The Direct has compiled 34 characters that are either rumored or confirmed to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
It wouldn't exactly be a Doctor Strange movie without Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Stephen Strange. Now more than five years into his MCU tenure, Cumberbatch is set to make his sixth appearance as Marvel's master sorcerer, although this is only his second solo movie after first debuting in Doctor Strange in 2016.
Fans last saw Strange working with Tom Holland's Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home, having cast the spell that first broke the Multiverse open in order to help Peter Parker with his identity crisis. The threequel ended with Strange performing the spell the way it was originally meant to be cast, leaving the world with no memories of Peter's existence.
Now, Strange will take on a whole new universe of trouble as he advances his sorcery skills, which is already confirmed to pit him with challenges he's never seen before.
The film's first synopsis teased Strange's status as a central figure amongst the Avengers while also showing that he's more ambitious than ever with magic. Of course, he's been the key figure in both of the movie's first two trailers, with plenty of footage giving a taste of where his journey will go.
While the MCU's core Doctor Strange will be the center of attention in his solo sequel, he won't be alone. In fact, he won't even be the only Doctor Strange that fans will meet in this adventure.
Defender Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Status: Confirmed
"The Multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little."
Once that Multiversal door is opened again in this new sequel, Stephen Strange will find out just how powerful and important he is in more than just his world. After freaking out at the sight of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men next to Tom Holland's MCU hero, he'll come face-to-face with different versions of himself in his next solo movie.
One of those is known as Defender Strange, which has the opportunity to give an exciting twist to one of Marvel Studios' most powerful heroes.
This version of Strange is classically a part of Marvel's Defenders team in the comics, having boasted partnerships with iconic characters like the Hulk and Valkyrie. Although the ponytail hairstyle he rocks is likely just to help differentiate him from the movie's titular hero, his outfit is almost identical to the one he wore while fighting alongside the Defenders.
The most recent spot from Super Bowl LVI confirmed this version of Strange will be a part of the plot after he was teased for a split second in the first trailer from December. He's also been rumored to come from the same universe as America Chavez, one of the film's other core protagonists, although exact plot specifics are still being kept under wraps.
More information on the second version of Doctor Strange will likely come in pieces over the next few weeks, although there's a third magician that will help lead the other side of the fight.
Sinister Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Status: Confirmed
"Things just got out of hand."
Completing the trio of Doctor Stranges is the recently named Sinister Strange, who made his creepy debut at the end of the sequel's first trailer.
Dressed in darker robes and sporting a more disheveled look than either of his counterparts, Sinister Strange started plenty of conversations when he first came to life. Benedict Cumberbatch's third character in this film became one of the first wild entries to be officially confirmed.
Part of what started so many discussions about him in Multiverse of Madness was the idea that this new Variant could be the same Doctor Strange Supreme seen in What If...?. However, this was debunked with the Super Bowl trailer's captions.
Sinister Strange is one that seems to be taking a much darker turn even than the MCU's animated sorcerer, who did everything he did almost purely out of grief.
No matter how his story is fleshed out, Sinister Strange is here in full force and ready to cause his own round of mayhem. And somehow, he's not the last Strange, as yet another version of the sorcerer made his way into the public eye shortly after this trio.
Supreme Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Status: Confirmed
In a universe that had only featured one Doctor Strange since his 2016 debut, the character's solo sequel is pulling out all the stops. The movie is now confirmed to bring a fourth good doctor into the mix.
While not much is known about him, a leaked Funko Pop! image teased the inclusion of another Doctor Strange Variant called "Supreme Strange." This take on Cumberbatch's hero sports lighter-colored blue robes than any of his contemporaries and is completely clean-shaven, which should help distinguish him from the ponytailed Defender Strange and the shaggy-looking Sinister Strange.
This appears to be the version of Strange that was depicted in a massive statue in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum, which the prime Strange was seen briefly admiring in footage from the Super Bowl trailer.
Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen)
Status: Confirmed
"I made mistakes, and people were hurt."
After nearly three years away from the big screen, Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch is here for her first Phase 4 theatrical movie.
Wanda Maximoff has had quite the journey since being snapped back into existence in Avengers: Endgame, as seen in her nine episodes of WandaVision on Disney+. That series ended with the heroine embracing her Scarlet Witch persona, and in the first trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, she was confirmed to play as big of a role as anybody.
The trailers have teased that Wanda will come into play due to Doctor Strange looking for her help with his new venture into the Multiverse. Now that Wanda is more powerful than ever, even seemingly allowing some dark magic from the Darkhold to take hold of her as seen in the shot of her floating in the air with blackened fingers and dark changes to her outfit.
Every bit of footage has shown just how pivotal of a role Wanda will have in this movie - all that remains to be seen is the specifics. However, as was the case with her co-starring sorcerer, there appears to be more than one Wanda that will make an impact on the plot.
Variant Wanda? (Elizabeth Olsen)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Elizabeth Olsen's longtime heroine wasn't the only Scarlet Witch to come on screen, as one fateful moment in Westview, New Jersey confirmed the existence of a Wanda Variant!
Only seen in a few seconds of footage, one version of Wanda was seen on her knees in her full Scarlet Witch outfit in tears as another version of herself looked down seemingly in anger. This Variant was dressed in a much more casual outfit and had bruises on her face, which could come from an upcoming battle between the two Scarlet Witches in their family home.
How this Wanda Variant comes into play and why she's a part of the story is very much unknown, especially since she's seen less than five seconds of screen time in the trailers thus far. In fact, this is the only scene that confirmed that the movie will feature Wanda Variants at all with the tie back to WandaVision.
Regardless, two Scarlet Witches can only mean that some wild magic is set to make its mark on this new story. The world and the Multiverse will be on high alert no matter which Wanda flies into action.
Wong (Benedict Wong)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Benedict Wong's Wong is one of the most important supporting players for Doctor Strange in the comics and on the big screen. It would be a crime if the master of magic didn't come back for more action in a second Doctor Strange solo movie.
Wong has actually been a bigger part of Phase 4 thus far than almost anybody in Multiverse of Madness with one scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home and his semi-cameo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The Spider-Man threequel even confirmed that he now has the title of Sorcerer Supreme after Strange blipped in Avengers: Infinity War, leaving him in charge of Kamar Taj and the training of all sorcerers.
Wong has appeared in every trailer and TV spot thus far, set to advise and protect Doctor Strange in his upcoming journey through the Multiverse. Not wanting anything to do with Strange's spell to help fix Peter Parker's life at the end of 2021, he'll absolutely have to be more involved this time around.
Fans haven't seen Wong cast much magic yet, but that Sorcerer Supreme title will have to be put to good use sooner rather than later.
America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
The biggest newcomer in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez, who was teased as early as Summer 2020. Gomez was cast in March 2021, and she's even seen a few seconds of action in the promotional material that confirms her impact on the story.
Coming in with incredible Multiversal abilities and the potential to lead the MCU's next wave of Young Avengers, America Chavez will help introduce Doctor Strange and Wanda to what she knows about the Multiverse. She's able to travel through multiple dimensions, and she's already been teased to have a relationship with the movie's core villains.
Gomez's heroine hasn't had any dialogue yet, but considering how often she's been discussed in talks about the movie, she's someone who can't be ignored. With plenty of Young Avengers already having debuted in Disney+ shows and movies alike, America Chavez should be just at the start of her exciting MCU tenure.
Gargantos
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Aside from the powerful humans that will drive the story forward in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, interdimensional monsters will make their MCU debut as well. The biggest of these comes with Gargantos, the one-eyed, green, slimy, tentacled alien who has been seen in every piece of promo material released to date.
The character was originally thought to be the villainous Shuma-Gorath, although legal issues didn't allow Marvel Studios to bring that specific entity onto the big screen. Now, Marvel is putting forth a different Multiversal monster in Gargantos, one who is already confirmed to cause some serious damage to an undisclosed city in his Marvel Studios debut.
Rumors are indicating that Gargantos is hunting America Chavez in order to steal her powers and gain full control of the Multiverse, although he's only been seen on-screen for a few seconds. He's had no lines and no specific backstory has been revealed for his character so far, but considering how powerful he's said to be, it's clear that there is plenty more to learn about his inclusion in the film.
It's looking likely that Gargantos will be the main villain of Multiverse of Madness, although that could easily change once the film debuts in full. No matter how the details pan out, this gargantuan creature won't be something easy for Doctor Strange and company to take down.
Rintrah
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Marvel isn't just getting a giant tentacled alien in the Doctor Strange sequel. The heroes' side of the fight also gets their own powerful being in a Minotaur known as Rintrah!
In the comics, the green and furry creature debuted in 1986 as a mystical being from the planet R'Vaal before going on numerous adventures with Doctor Strange. After being teased in various pieces of promo material, Rintrah made his first MCU appearance in the second trailer for Marvel Studios' first movie of 2022.
Thus far, Rintrah's only seen a couple of seconds of footage thus far, including a shot of his horse-like face from a distance away. Fans are looking forward to seeing more of the mystical creature in action, whether it be with his physical skills or his abilities with the mystic arts.
How the Minotaur comes into this story alongside Strange and the sorcerers at Kamar Taj is anybody's guess, as is the extent of how big his role will be. Regardless, there's no denying that Rintrah will be there to unleash his full powers in his MCU debut.
Master Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Chiwetel Ejiofor made his mark on 2016's Doctor Strange as his Baron Mordo helped the titular hero progress toward becoming a sorcerer, all before leaving Kamar Taj on his own quest to become even more powerful. While Ejiofor will still be playing Mordo in the solo sequel, it will seemingly be a different version of the powerful magician this time around.
This one is known as Master Mordo, who many are speculating to be a Variant that serves as the Sorcerer Supreme of his world. This version of Mordo boasts a more extravagant green costume along with top-notch black dreadlocks flowing from his head, and he also appears to have even more power than prime Mordo from the first movie.
In the trailers, this Mordo is seen in a fistfight with Doctor Strange, although his presence will go far beyond just that. He's also heard telling Strange "Your desecration of reality will not go unpunished."
Right now, it's unclear if the same Mordo from Doctor Strange will make an appearance in this movie alongside Master Mordo, with the former still likely after Strange for "violating the natural law." But even with that mystery, Master Mordo will add yet another new dimension of storytelling to this adventure, particularly with the Illuminati's rumored involvement.
Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
While she isn't exactly a love interest, Rachel McAdams' Christine Palmer did play a key role in helping Stephen Strange find himself as a man outside his magical journey. Although there are plenty of other powerful players coming into play, it would be almost a crime not to have her return for her second MCU appearance after first debuting in 2016's Doctor Strange.
When audiences last saw Christine, she put in her best effort to save the Ancient One before the former Sorcerer Supreme met her end. Christine sent Doctor Strange off on his mission to defeat Kaecillius and Dormammu in Hong Kong and the Dark Dimension, although she's been completely missing from Strange's stories for more than five years.
After her inclusion in the cast at Disney Investor Day 2020, the first trailer for Multiverse of Madness confirmed that Christine will indeed be back for more of the magic and craziness. However, as is the case with many other characters, the big question is exactly how many Christine Palmers there will be in this film.
Most of her footage thus far has been from her wedding, showing the leading lady in a white gown as she walks down the aisle and then runs outside to see what's happening to her world. This seems most likely to be prime Christine, but there's a version of McAdams' MCU doctor that could be someone completely different as well.
A quick shot from the Super Bowl TV spot showed a more casually-dressed Christine is seen in what appears to be the Illuminati's headquarters as Ultron Bots run beside her. At this time, it's unclear if these Christines are one and the same or if the one in the lab is a new Variant coming into play.
Regardless, Christine will be back for Round 2 in the MCU as she sees just how expansive the Multiverse truly is.
Nicodemus West (Michael Stuhlbarg)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Another one of Strange's co-workers will be back for the Doctor Strange sequel as Michael Stuhlbarg reprises his role as Dr. Nicodemus West.
Fans saw him involved in a workplace rivalry with Strange, although he only appeared in a couple of scenes in total. Things ended with West trying to help Strange and Christine Palmer in the emergency room to save the Ancient One's life, although it's a mystery where his story will go after that.
Stuhlbarg's character was seen for a split second in the first trailer next to the good doctor at Christine Palmer's wedding, bearing a huge grin on his face. He was also confirmed as part of the cast in one of the film's official synopsizes, but there's no telling how big his role will be in the overarching plot.
However big that role is, Dr. West will be back in action, ticking watch and all.
Ultron Drones
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
In October 2021, The Direct exclusively revealed that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would feature the return of Ultron sentries, which were rumored to come from a different universe. While their specific role is still somewhat unknown, the Super Bowl promotional material showed these robots making their glorious return after debuting in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The TV spot had one of these robots running beside Christine Palmer in the Illuminerdi's headquarters while the full new trailer showed them escorting Stephen Strange to what will likely be a hearing in front of the Illuminati. These drones seem to have gotten an upgrade in their design, which now looks much more sleek and refined compared to the look from seven years ago.
How long these drones are in the movie and what they will be doing specifically is still yet to be revealed. However, Ultron's sentry robots will be back in action for the first time since Phase 2 of the MCU in this massive sequel.
Sara
Funko Pop!
While no actress is confirmed for this role, another leaked Funko Pop! confirmed the appearance of a character named Sara. Based on her blue sorcerer's robes, Sara is likely a magical newcomer training at Kamar Taj alongside Strange, Wong, Rintrah, and more as the sequel is getting started.
One option for who this character could actually be is Sara Wofle, who briefly held the title of Wong's girlfriend in different runs of the comics. Other theories have pointed to this potentially being Sara Krowler, better known as both Baroness Mordo and Baron Mordo's mother, which could bring quite an interesting twist to this story.
Professor X (Patrick Stewart)
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
"We should tell him the truth."
The real madness behind this Multiversal outing now comes with the rumored inclusion of Patrick Stewart's Professor Charles Xavier.
Having played the role for 17 years with 20th Century Fox, rumors began teasing Stewart's jump to the MCU at the end of 2021. While he still isn't officially confirmed to be a part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the signs are all pointing in that direction.
Although Stewart denied it being the case, fans are convinced that his voice was the one that told Doctor Strange "we should tell him the truth" as the shot panned to an undisclosed person. With rumors of Marvel's Illuminati coming into play, Professor X would be a prime candidate to lead that Multiversal team considering his incredible power and intelligence.
Although Marvel is doing its best to keep Stewart's MCU debut as secretive as possible, the studio still seemingly included him in an official trailer three months ahead of his return. This will make for one of the biggest moments not only in Multiverse of Madness but in the MCU's history as a whole.
Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell)
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
Hayley Atwell is one of the MCU's longest-standing supporting players, having last appeared via voiceover in 2021's What If...? as the Multiversal Variant Captain Carter. In her universe, she was the one to receive the Super Soldier Serum in Project Rebirth before leading the Guardians of the Multiverse into battle against Infinity Ultron.
Now, a small glimpse of her shield on the Doctor Strange 2 poster may be teasing a transition to live-action for Atwell's new take on Peggy Carter.
Rumors had pointed to this being the case in July 2022, teasing that Atwell would play a small role as Captain Carter in the Multiversal sequel. With her shield showing up on the movie's poster, there's no way to ignore it as a real possibility.
Due to such a vast number of universes being explored in this movie, even one that may be animated, it wouldn't be too big of a shock relatively to see Atwell's Captain Carter make the transition to live-action stories. How she plays into the plot is still unknown, but there seems to be a real chance that she'll be there for the action.
Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch)
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
Captain Marvel's status is rising in a big way in Phase 4, with Brie Larson's character already having appeared in the mid-credits scene from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may be teasing the existence of another Captain Marvel that isn't Carol Danvers.
Who could that Variant be? None other than Lashana Lynch's Maria Rambeau.
The sequel's second trailer showed a version of Captain Marvel that appeared to have Lynch's face under the glowing white eyes as Captain Marvel flew into action. This confirms that a version of the heroine will make an appearance in the movie, especially as fans saw her fly headfirst toward Wanda Maximoff in what appeared to be the Illuminati's headquarters.
With Carol Danvers becoming more of a key player as Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau exploring her full potential as Spectrum, it appears that Lashana Lynch now has her time to shine as a hero. Nothing will be confirmed until the film releases, but this new version of Captain Marvel could make a major impact on the Multiverse.
Bruce Campbell's Undisclosed Character
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
Sam Raimi has turned many of his filmmaking decisions into regular moves over the years, including his partnership with longtime actor Bruce Campbell.
Campbell has a history in the Marvel world with roles in all three of Raimi's Spider-Man films from 2002 to 2007. He was even rumored to play Raimi's version of Mysterio in the unmade Spider-Man 4 after playing a wrestling announcer, a theater usher, and a maitre d' in his first three superhero outings.
Campbell is an interesting addition to this list, as he's already confirmed that he will have a role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. What isn't known yet is who exactly he will be playing in this wild adventure.
Will he finally get the chance to bring a different version of Mysterio to life? Will it be another classic Marvel character? Will it simply be a background player in the middle of the action?
That will all come to light when Campbell actually appears on-screen.
Loki (Tom Hiddleston)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Tom Hiddleston is in an interesting situation in regard to his potential appearance as Loki in Multiverse of Madness.
Immediately after the sixth episode of Loki aired on Disney+, Hiddleston was said to have joined the cast of Benedict Cumberbatch's solo Doctor Strange sequel. However, neither Hiddleston nor anybody involved with either project has spoken about Loki being a part of the plot at all.
Although Hiddleston's appearance was reported by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the most reliable sources in the business, Loki hasn't been a part of any promotional material on-screen or in merchandise. It's unclear how big his role will be in the sequel, or how he enters the fray, but after opening the Multiverse in his own solo series, he'll have to put his best efforts in to fix everything in front of him.
Mobius (Owen Wilson)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Loki built up a relationship with both Owen Wilson's Mobius and Sophia Di Martino's Sylvie through his six-episode series, although there was no confirmation for where and when they would continue. Rumors pointed to them following the God of Mischief into Doctor Strange 2, but just like Hiddleston, no other reports have discussed their place in the story.
Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Fans last saw Mobius in a bit of a frenzy at the TVA headquarters after the Multiverse broke while Sylvie remained at the Citadel at the End of Time after killing He Who Remains. There is certainly a path for them to traverse the Multiverse and reunite with Loki as everything descends into madness, but that will remain a secret likely until the film debuts.
Billy & Tommy Maximoff (Julian Hilliard & Jett Klyne)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
WandaVision allowed the titular Wanda Maximoff to have a life with her family, which included classic young Avengers Billy & Tommy Maximoff. Her twin sons, also known by their superhero monikers of Wiccan and Speed, were lost when Wanda's Hex faded from reality, but there's still a path for them to rejoin the fray in Doctor Strange 2.
Reports revealed that Marvel took a couple of days to film a scene featuring Billy and Tommy set on some sort of country farm. How this ties into the movie is anybody's guess, but it wouldn't come as too big of a shock to see Wanda's twin sons come back for their second MCU project.
The Scarlet Witch is trying to do anything she can to get her family back, the first teases of which are seen as she hears her sons' voices in her head while she floats in the air. Although they won't be confirmed as part of the cast for a while, their return is firmly on the list of possibilities.
Mr. Fantastic (John Krasinski)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
There are no signs pointing to when Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four will go into production or release, but rumors are pointing to Doctor Strange 2 bringing in the first member. One of the numerous cameos rumored to come into this movie is the group's leader, Reed Richards, who is said to be played by fan-favorite John Krasinski.
The man behind Jim Halpert in The Office has been one of the most popular fan-casts for the MCU's version of Dr. Richards, and whether he plays the core MCU version or not, he may have the opportunity to break the mold for Marvel Studios.
How much screen time is in store for Krasinski? There's no way to tell for sure. But should he make his MCU debut, it will undoubtedly be a headlining moment from this sequel.
Black Bolt (Anson Mount)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
One of Marvel's most maligned properties is the Inhumans TV show, which only ran for one eight-episode season on ABC in 2017. The Inhumans have haven't been explored in the larger MCU, but the group's leader, Black Bolt, is part of rumors for one of Doctor Strange 2's major cameo appearances.
Anson Mount brought the immensely powerful Inhuman king to life in the ABC series, boasting a voice that kills and destroys anything in range.
It's unclear if there are any official plans to introduce the Inhumans officially, although rumors are pointing to this being the case in Ms. Marvel. Should Black Bolt appear in Doctor Strange 2, it would open the door for these unique super-powered beings to join a growing Multiverse's worth of heroes.
Clea (Charlize Theron)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Another powerful sorcerer in Marvel's catalog is Clea, who has long been rumored for a potential role in the MCU. With ties to the Dark Dimension and a history with Dormammu, the magic-wielder has now come up again in talks about Doctor Strange 2, this time with Charlize Theron potentially attached to the role.
Theron has been connected to the MCU on multiple occasions, although she's indicated that Marvel's never asked her to take on a role before. Having her play Clea would tie in fairly easily with her history alongside strange in the comics, and even if she doesn't play a big role in this movie, a cameo could set the stage for a bigger role in the future.
Balder the Brave
Marvel
Status: Rumored
While no actor is attached to the next rumor, it teases the potential inclusion of a famous Asgardian named Balder the Brave.
The character is known as Thor's half-brother and an ally of the Warriors Three in the comics, having served as one of Asgard's greatest warriors over the years. How he actually joins the story in Multiverse of Madness is a whole other mystery, particularly with no other Asgardians rumored to be joining the plot otherwise.
Balder is rumored to be from another universe in this movie, although this wouldn't be Doctor Strange's first interaction with an Asgardian after his time with Thor and Loki in Thor: Ragnarok. The longtime comic hero will most likely remain under the radar officially for the time being, although his introduction in Doctor Strange 2 could bring a new level of thrills, especially with Thor: Love and Thunder debuting in July.
Magneto
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Where there's a Professor X, there's often a Magneto. And in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Erik Lehnsherr may not be far behind his old friend, Charles Xavier.
Along with rumors featuring everyone from Inhumans to Asgardians, this sequel may bring in a version of the classic X-Men antagonist for a short moment on screen. Whether it's Sir Ian McKellan from the original Fox trilogy, Michael Fassbender from the 2010s, or a completely new actor is unknown at the moment, but Doctor Strange should certainly be on the lookout for any fast-moving metal.
Another mystery is whether Magneto will interact with Patrick Stewart's Professor X, which would bring the entire Marvel universe full circle with those two driving the original X-Men trilogy. Should this come to play, generations of superhero movie fans would be in for the event of a lifetime.
Iron Man Variant (Tom Cruise)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
In the canon MCU, Tony Stark hasn't been seen since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, but his influence remains strong throughout Phase 4. It seems fitting that there are rumors about a new Tony Variant coming into this movie, one that's played by legendary action star Tom Cruise!
The man behind Mission: Impossible has a history with the role, as he was actually in the running to play Iron Man in 2008 before Downey took it. While Cruise's potential role in Doctor Strange 2 is still a mystery, there are a couple of key pieces of evidence that lead to him being there for the fight.
The Super Bowl TV spot for Multiverse of Madness showed what appeared to be a version of Iron Man, which fans are already theorizing to be the evil Superior Iron Man. Additionally, an alleged leaked screening of the movie teases that Cruise is in fact on screen playing the role.
This rumor won't be substantiated until early May, but it's one that has fans talking nonetheless.
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Whenever Deadpool inevitably comes into the MCU, he'll unquestionably be played by Ryan Reynolds. When that happens is anybody's guess, but the Merc With a Mouth finds himself in the middle of rumors pointing toward an MCU debut in Doctor Strange 2.
Looking at the sequel's first official poster, fans believed they saw a hint of Wade Wilson in one of the broken shards of glass surrounding Doctor Strange.
Now, Reynolds has denied the rumor by telling the world flat out that he isn't in Doctor Strange 2. This same sentiment came through shortly after Reynolds' denial, as movie insider John Campea shared information that made him supremely confident about Deadpool not being in the movie.
This will be another wait-and-see situation, although it may not be one of the more likely ones. But, as Reynolds said, everybody involved could be lying.
Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)
Marvel
After more than a year of silence on the matter, Tobey Maguire caused cheers all over the world when he returned as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Since then, he's spoken about just how special it was for him to reprise his iconic superhero role, and there's even a chance that he'll be back in the red-and-blue spandex sooner than anyone expected.
Rumors hinted that Maguire would, in fact, be back with Marvel Studios in some capacity for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The rumor didn't tease the extent of his role or how he would play into the plot, but the chance that Strange may interact with a web-slinger again seems only fitting after he did it in the biggest movie of last year.
Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield)
Marvel
With the tease that Peter 2 may be in for Round 2 in the MCU, the same can also be said for Peter 3.
Following his long-awaited MCU debut as the Amazing Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Andrew Garfield may be in line for another chance to play the web-slinger in Doctor Strange's solo sequel. The rumors for his return haven't been quite as public as those for Maguire, but he does remain in the discussion.
Should he return, it likely won't be in quite as big of a role as he played in No Way Home, where he and Maguire drove the third act home alongside Tom Holland. Even so, seeing him at all would bring plenty of excitement for the Spidey fandom.
Wolverine
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Professor X and Magneto are one thing when it comes to the X-Men finally arriving in the MCU. Throw a potential Wolverine into that mix, and it could be cause for even more mayhem in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
According to a rumor from Joe Deckelmeier of The Illuminerdi, the magical sequel will feature a version of James Logan that isn't played by Hugh Jackman. Whether this is the MCU's core take on the clawed mutant or if it's just a Multiversal Variant is a mystery. But the opportunity is there for arguably the X-Men's most famous hero to charge into the fray.
As is the case with other characters, there are no signs pointing to how big Wolverine's role will be. Even so, he'll add another layer of anticipation to the faction of X-Men possibly making their MCU debut this year.
Which Marvel Characters Will Appear in Doctor Strange 2?
Marvel
With two months remaining until Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness debuts, Marvel will be tight-lipped on revealing any truth to rumors about the characters included in this list. Fans won't stop talking until that time, but these rumors will only remain rumors until the appropriate time.
Now, the fandom approaches the home stretch for this sequel's promotional tour with it being the next theatrical release on Marvel's massive slate. More than a dozen characters are undoubtedly appearing in the new movie while nearly another two dozen are in discussions - safe to say, Marvel Studios has yet another event on its hands.
