There have been many discussions surrounding the creative freedom that directors have with modern blockbusters. As franchises become larger and more complex, consisting of multi-media franchises, there’s a challenge to keep an overview while fully letting external creatives take control over these projects. Marvel Studios has repeatedly been spotlighted given how the MCU continues to expand, its complexities may hinder talent. Yet, while there are some cases, most directors have seemingly praised the work with the production company. Sam Raimi, who joined the franchise to work on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has revealed in an interview with The Playlist that he had “complete creative freedom” while working on the film.
Well, let me say — and this may sound like I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth — that Marvel allowed me complete creative freedom. However, it had to follow so many things in Marvel lore, [so] even though I had complete freedom, the previous movies and where Marvel wants to go in the future really directed the path in an incredibly specific way. Within those parameters I have freedom, but I’ve got to tell the story of those characters in a way that ties in with all of the properties simultaneously. We had to make sure, for instance, that Doctor Strange didn’t know more than he had learned about the multiverse from No Way Home. And yet we had to make sure he wasn’t ignorant of things that he had already learned. So everything was dictated by what had become before.
Sam Raimi
He does highlight that there were some elements he couldn’t fully control, but those are purely adhering to story consistency. So, the same rules apply to taking over any project that already has a few films on its belt. He is taking over the Doctor Strange sequel. So, even if there wasn’t an expanded universe to adhere to, the rule would still apply given what we saw in the first. It’s great to know that the director had that much creative freedom and highlights how much the team believed in his work going into the sequel.
Source: Rolling Stone
