Michael Waldron is the mastermind not only behind Loki but also the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, Multiverse of Madness. He’ll explore the multiverse that he unleashed, but is very aware of the true dangers of exploring this kind of storyline. It offers the endless possibility, especially if you lose focus along the way on why exactly you’re telling the story. Yet, the unique scenario also lends itself to create a unique character study.
The danger is you can expand your scope too wide, and you can actually reduce the stakes if you don’t make it personal as you go bigger and wider. But the opportunity in the multiverse is to have characters confront literal ‘What ifs?’ and alternate versions of themselves and perhaps others in their lives. It’s an interesting way to hold up a mirror to characters
Michael Waldron
He highlights that this is definitely a “Doctor Strange’s story above all else,” which may help some that were getting worried after the recent statement by Bruce Campbell, where he jokingly referenced that Benedict Cumberbatch may not know if he’s even in the film, as director Sam Raimi had to adapt some elements due to story consistency.
In every way, it shapes the emotional heart of the story. It has to. The multiverse isn’t just a MacGuffin where we’re like, ‘Okay, this is just a kitschy thing that we’re playing with in this movie.’ If you’re faced with alternate realities and with alternate versions of yourself that has to become the emotional heart, exploring who you might be if you were a different version of yourself, if you made other choices, the right choices or the wrong choices. It’s complex stuff, emotionally, and that’s exactly why it’s so thrilling and so great for a cast as dramatically talented as this one.
Michael Waldron
He also highlighted that he rewatched the first film multiple times to ensure that this is definitely his story even with all the multiverse shenanigans going on. It’s certainly promising to see how Strange faces the What Ifs of his Variants and how that might affect his future.
Source: SFX
