Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: doctor strange in the multiverse of madness

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’s Xochitl Gomez on a Potential Young Avengers Spinoff

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’s Xochitl Gomez on a Potential Young Avengers Spinoff

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is about to be unleashed into theaters and will introduce the world to Xochitl Gomez‘s America Chavez. The famous member of the Young Avengers has the ability to punch her way through the multiverse, which makes it the perfect jumping-off point for the character. Of course, as many of their latest ventures introduced some younger heroes, it seems almost inevitable that we’ll meet the young team of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

    It seems that Gomez is of the same opinion, as in an interview with ComicBook.com, she also discussed her hopes of having the team form in the future, especially highlighting Kate Bishop and Kid Loki, who was a curious addition as a Vriant in the Disney+ Loki series. She’s certainly on board for this team to form in a future project.

    Of course Kate Bishop and I think Loki because I want to see how that can pan out.

    Xochitl Gomez

    Young Avengers is seemingly the end goal with many story beats hinting at their formation. While it’s unclear if we’ll even see another classic Avengers film anytime soon, it does look like they want to have this next generation of heroes become an integral part of the franchise. For now, we can still only speculate, especially with when they might fast-track this project, but it’s great to see the new cast members excited for its potential.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • Michael Waldron on Working With the Cast to Write ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Michael Waldron on Working With the Cast to Write ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Taking part in today’s press conference for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, writer Michael Waldron shared about the collaborative process of writing Marvel’s upcoming summer blockbuster. When asked about what kept the film centered on storytelling, he focused on staying true to the characters and working with their actors.

    I had the great benefit of kind of inheriting a bulk of these characters. And so I think that was what certainly centered me creatively. You know: Stephen, Wanda, Wong. Obviously America is a new character that Xochitl was originating. But in a lot of ways, I was just a steward of these characters on the page and so there was a lot of opportunity to collaborate with these tremendous actors who know them better than I could. And as the script evolved, which it very much was all the time, you’re really refining it and it’s leaning on the people who have been doing it even longer than we have in this individual chapter. It’s a real team effort putting this story together.

    Michael Waldron

    Michael Waldron‘s answer provides some perspective into how much creative input performers have had for this film that has had a fast-paced process for the writer and the production team. This is a concept that especially works when you have world-class talented performers such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen in principal roles collaborating with the likes of Waldron and director Sam Raimi. As well, his response gives a window into how the creative teams working in tandem with Marvel Studios have been able to sustain the cinematic juggernaut they’ve been for the past decade.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in theaters on Friday, May 6.

  • Kevin Feige on Keeping Marvel Cinematic Universe Secrets

    Kevin Feige on Keeping Marvel Cinematic Universe Secrets

    Movie leaks are always a mixed bag. Sometimes fans enjoy them because they help to get them excited, while other times, fans want to avoid having the film spoiled for them. For the past few years, Marvel Studios has seen quite a few big leaks surrounding its many projects in development. Perhaps the most prolific of the bunch were the leaks surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home. During the virtual press conference for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige addressed these concerns, noting it isn’t always easy to keep the secrets. 

    During the conference, Feige was asked about the challenge of keeping all the secrets and surprises for the upcoming releases. After all, the running joke is that Marvel snipers – and/or Feige – are always watching. Surprisingly, however, Feige seemed to note how difficult it has become in recent years.

    “The unfortunate truth is you don’t, and therefore you need to make sure that the experience itself works, regardless of what has been spoiled or not. We still do as good a job as we can and I think a lot of people are getting good at not spreading it. You know somebody steals something, don’t spread it around because it just potentially lessens the experience, but in a lot of ways, No Way Home showed that it did not lessen the experience, so we will continue to do the best we can, but the most important thing is delivering the movie or the show that delivers regardless of what you know going in.”

    Kevin Feige

    The Doctor Strange sequel has had quite a few leaks itself, whether it be from Marvel Studios directly or scoopers eager to reveal the cameos in the film. Still, despite the leaks, fans seem eager to hit the movie theaters still. As it stands, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is looking to bring in $200 million domestically in its opening weekend. 

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Writer on How the Sequel Expands Upon MCU’s Magic

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Writer on How the Sequel Expands Upon MCU’s Magic

    Magic is about to expand in the MCU, as Doctor Strange finds himself lost within the vastness of the multiverse. The Marvel universe has been quite a bit different since 2016, as we’ve been introduced to many more powerful magic users, sci-fi concepts, and so much more. Naturally, the arrival of the upcoming release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness makes many wonders just how it might further explore the concept, and luckily writer Michael Waldron offered some insight during the film’s press conference.

    The first movie was very much about Stephen Strange entering this world of magic, learning about it […] and beginning to master it. And then, we had Stephen in several other movies and the Avengers films, and then Spider-Man: No Way Home. This is our first time in a movie that is really his and this is our chance to focus on that magic and check in on what is it look like 5 years on.

    Michael Waldron

    He goes on to highlight that it’s definitely an expansion, which leads to quite a lot of laughter early on while trying to answer the question, and focuses on how every character involved is at a ta certain point that helps push it forward.

    This guy who was the greatest surgeon, now he’s been a sorcerer for a while. He’s been through a lot, how good of a sorcerer is he? We’re seeing him kind of at the height of his powers and I think that’s really exciting. At the same time, you’re encountering Wong, who has become Sorcerer Supreme. He’s at the height of his powers. Then you have Wanda, who is actualized in a whole new way from the end of WandaVision and you could say she’s at the height of her powers.

    Michael Waldron

    The potential of exploring these characters at the height of their power certainly opens up a lot of potential in how the film has to tackle these powerful magic users going at it. In a way, the multiverse seems like the perfect way to not only catch them off-guard but also push them into exploring concepts way beyond their understanding even with their current standings.

  • Xochitl Gomez on Bringing America Chavez to Life in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Xochitl Gomez on Bringing America Chavez to Life in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    While Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to focus on Doctor Strange and Wanda, following the events of both Spider-Man: No Way Home and WandaVision, it is also set to introduce a new character. America Chavez of the Young Avengers will make her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness debuts later this week. The character will be played by Xochitl Gomez, who is perhaps best known for her work on Netflix’s The Baby-Sitter’s Club, and will mark the first live-action take on the fan-favorite character. So, it’s not entirely surprising then that many are curious about what she brings to the long-awaited Doctor Strange sequel.

    During the press conference for the film today, Gomez was asked what America will bring to Multiverse of Madness. “I mean, um, one thing that was so important to me was that – this is a very adult movie, there’s lots of adults in it, it’s very heavy, and so, I wanted to make sure America still had that youthfulness, and still had that, you know, fake it till you make it you know just resilience,” she explained.

    Gomez also noted the character’s age on film and how it differed from the comics, noting how it allowed Michael Waldron to write a new introduction for America. “You know, when you’ve got some crazy stuff happening it’s a little hard, but I think one thing that really helps is that she is fourteen – which is younger than she was in any of the comics – so I mean that really helps, you know, in writing a new introduction, which I think Michael Waldron did beautifully.”

    Fans can see Gomez as America when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters later this week.

  • Sam Raimi Teases How His Earlier Horror Films Influenced ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Sam Raimi Teases How His Earlier Horror Films Influenced ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    While we’re excited to head into the multiverse, there’s a lot of potential with Marvel Studios’ first true venture into horror. The genre is a long-time favorite for many moviegoers and the film has promised that it’ll give us the kind of scares we’ve always hoped to see in a Marvel film. When Sam Raimi took over from Scott Derrickson, we knew that the film is still in good hands to keep that genre alive.

    The director may be quite famous for setting the benchmark for modern superhero films with 2002’s Spider-Man, he made a name in the industry with his work on the Evil Dead series. He even followed up his caped adventures with Drag Me to Hell, as a way to venture to During the press conference, Sam Raimi talked about how those films influenced his venture into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    When Kevin announced that this movie would be the first entry into Marvel putting their toe into the world of horror, I was thrilled that he called me to come in and talk about the possibility of directing this picture. I was able to take those horror films I made in my youth, and what I had learned from them, building suspense sequences, tituling the audience, going to give them a scare now? No, NOW I am going to give it to them. That stuff I was able to apply in the spooky sequences in this film.

    Sam Raim

    It certainly sounds promising, especially with the iconic camera shots that made him stand out as a director. The first clips and even the trailers included some references to his talent with the camera, which will make the film potentially stand out among Marvel’s already impressive filmography. As he’s openly stated he is excited to potentially direct another project, here’s hoping he can further expand the horror projects for Marvel Studios.

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Still Currently Eyeing a $200M Opening Weekend at the Domestic Box Office

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Still Currently Eyeing a $200M Opening Weekend at the Domestic Box Office

    During CinemaCon, Disney unveiled that their upcoming Marvel release has already made $42M in presales, and has already outpaced The Batman at this point. The more sales data makes its way to vendors, the easier it becomes to get a better grasp of where exactly the film’s box office performance might lead. The Batman opened with $134M and it looks like the current predictions still has it making up to $200M at the domestic box office. That would mean it has the potential to end its run at $535M, which Box Office Pro teased back in early April.

    Fandango’s Erik Davis took to his Twitter account to share that film is currently tracking between $150M to a $200M opening weekend at the domestic box office. Box Office Pro has adjusted its forecast, which would see it between $190M and $215M within 3-days. So, it has seen a slight uptick since the initial prediction. Of course, there’s always a chance that the film could even outperform those numbers once word-of-mouth makes its rounds. As Davis points out, this could become one of the biggest Box office increases between film entries for the MCU if it beats expectations.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been topping Fandango’s Most Anticipated List alongside Marvel Studios’ July release, Thor: Love and Thunder. The teased return of Patrick Stewart may also draw in a crowd alongside the many believed cameos that people are hoping to see, especially as the film ventures out into the Marvel multiverse. The latest promo has been a bit spoiler-heavy but it seems that it’s a marketing ploy to get that last nudge for those that haven’t seen it and are in disbelief over reports they are hearing. We will finally know how well it truly performed by Sunday of next week.

    Source: Twitter, Box Office Pro

  • Sam Raimi Had “Complete Creative Freedom” Over ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Sam Raimi Had “Complete Creative Freedom” Over ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    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

  • REPORT: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Soundtrack Includes Spoiler-Filled Track Names

    REPORT: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Soundtrack Includes Spoiler-Filled Track Names

    If you want to avoid spoilers of any kind for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, then only continue reading at your own risk.

    Nowadays, it seems like an upcoming film release has become a treacherous search for a way to avoid spoilers. Marvel Studios has even been releasing promo videos that give away quite a bit that caught many off-guard. Now, we also have to avoid sou tracks for films, as they include teases for story beats and hints at major events throughout the film’s run. Film Music Reporter has now released the full soundtrack for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and it contains some curious details on what we can expect from the film. Though, keep in mind that the track order has not been confirmed yet.

    1. Multiverse of Madness (2:37)
    2. On the Run (2:17)
    3. Strange Awakens (0:43)
    4. The Apple Orchard (3:18)
    5. Are You Happy (1:08)
    6. Gargantos (2:50)
    7. Journey with Wong (1:44)
    8. Home? (4:08)
    9. Strange Statue (1:43)
    10. The Decision Is Made (1:14)
    11. A Cup of Tea (3:58)
    12. Discovering America (0:47)
    13. Grab My Hand (1:14)
    14. Battle Time (3:11)
    15. Not a Monster (2:38)
    16. Forbidden Ground (2:29)
    17. Tribunal (2:13)
    18. They’re Not Coming Back (1:00)
    19. Stranger Things Will Happen (2:56)
    20. Buying Time (3:39)
    21. Book of Vishanti (2:45)
    22. Looking for Strange (1:38)
    23. Strange Talk (3:32)
    24. Lethal Symphonies (1:48)
    25. Getting Through (5:34)
    26. Only Way (2:51)
    27. Trust Your Power (2:54)
    28. They’ll Be Loved (3:59)
    29. Farewell (2:29)
    30. An Interesting Question (3:13)
    31. Main Titles (2:36)
    32. An Unexpected Visitor (0:32)

    Danny Elfman is working on the soundtrack, which is going to be quite promising given his history with the genre. He’s already helped work on MCU projects in the past and so he’ll be right back at home with this project. The biggest question though lies in the title “An Unexpected Visitor.” If that is indeed the final song on the track, it seems like we’ll meet someone from the multiverse that may set the path moving forward. Perhaps that unexpected visitor is the same that visited Dane Whitman in Eternals.

    Source: Film Music Reporter

  • Sam Raimi Opens Up on the Challenges of Working on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Sam Raimi Opens Up on the Challenges of Working on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Modern blockbuster development has become quite a challenge, as it now includes way more moving parts as budgets grow. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness adds to that very challenge with a multiversal storyline and Sam Raimi jumping in after Scott Derrickson left the project over creative differences while remaining as a producer. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he highlights the challenges and unique situation he found himself in when he started working on the project.

    When we started, we had a deadline to start shooting with a script that I didn’t really have anything to do with. And [screenwriter] Michael Waldron, [producer] Richie Palmer, the team at Marvel, and myself pretty much had to jump in and start over. I was very rushed and panicked — a lot of trepidation. But we kept working through it. And for us, the Covid delays were a blessing because it bought us more time to work on the script. We eventually got to the point where we had started shooting, even though we were still working on the script, and it went really well. Now I feel much more relieved. That part of the process is behind us.

    Sam Raimi

    Raimi goes on to highlight that there was one element that he would consider the “hardest part” of working on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It’s something that has become quite common for modern blockbusters and that is the ongoing writing process.

    I think the hardest part was the time deadlines, not having the story or the script [ready] … being halfway into it and not knowing what the ending was. Michael’s trying to stay a couple days ahead of us with the next page coming out of his computer printer, and it’s hard because you want to make sure that everything is supporting the whole — that the themes are running through the picture. But when you don’t quite know everything about the picture, it’s hard to do that job as effectively as possible.

    Sam Raimi

    We’ve heard in the past that the third act is the one aspect of films that gets changed the most, especially in the case of Marvel films due to all the moving parts involved. Of course, it adds a unique challenge, as he teased in the same interview, and Raimi has highlighted that he still had quite the creative freedom when it came to bringing this story to life. Yes, he did adhere to the stories that came before but it’s nothing new for a director to jump into a sequel of an existing franchise. It just happens to be a much larger one. He also highlighted just how challenging it was given it may be the most “complex movie” he’s ever worked on.

    It’s probably the most complex movie I’ve ever had anything to do with. Not just dealing with one character, or even five characters, but multiversal versions of those characters — and each one has a storyline.

    Sam Raimi

    With multiverse in the title, it’s no wonder that it was going to add an additional layer of challenge for anyone taking on the project. Sam Raimi is a veteran not only to film but also Marvel, which makes him a perfect choice to bring this project together. Add in his camera work to make their first horror-based storyline pop just that bit more making it even more exciting. The director also has said with all these challenges, he’s down to work on another project in the future.

    Source: Rolling Stone