Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: doctor strange in the multiverse of madness

  • How ‘Loki’s Villain Reveal May Set Up the Return of the Original Multiverse

    How ‘Loki’s Villain Reveal May Set Up the Return of the Original Multiverse

    The latest episode of Loki has finally dropped, and it gave us our first look at the deadly Variant of our titular character. It was indeed Sophia DiMartino playing a female version of the God of Mischief. Yet, if you remember, earlier in the episode, we are introduced to various Variants that all have one thing in common, they always have a resemblance to Tom Hiddleston. It also matches what we see teased in the first trailer for What If echoing Variants of existing Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. So, while DiMartino‘s accent seems inspired, there are many distinctions from her original counterpart that make her stand out as a unique character. Perhaps her origins are connected to the original multiverse?

    There is one curious detail that may hint at DiMartino‘s Loki potentially being a unique incarnation. The Spanish credits give her the name Sylvie and not Loki. Now, that name might ring a bell for comic readers as a version of the villainous Enchantress was named Sylvie Lushton in the 616 universes. Luckily, there is an actual confirmation within the episode. In the sequence where Loki goes through paperwork on the past events, there is a document that confirms her name is Sylvie Laufeydottir. The detail got uncovered by Reddit user LTC145, who shared it on Reddit.

     

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    So, if the Sacred Timeline always entails Loki Laufeyson going through his history, a version going by the name Sylvie would not match with the rules from the first episode. We also have to keep in mind the TVA doesn’t address people by how they identify. They reference them by their birth name, such as Loki technically archived as Laufeyson rather than Odinson. So, even if the files teased that he is genderfluid, each version from the episode’s opening still went by “Loki.” There is also the fact that DiMartino‘s version openly was disgusted by the name even though she doesn’t deny that she is a different version of the God of Mischief. It reminds me of a theory where we believed that the upcoming Spider-Men from the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb films might be part of the original Multiversal War, as they aren’t all Tom Holland look-a-likes. So, she too could be part of a time before the Time Keepers created the current MCU timeline.

    There even is a chance she might have taken part in the first Multiversal War and is a remnant that waited for the right time to put her plan into motion. It would also explain why she is so focused on creating brand new branches. It’ll distract the TVA long enough to infiltrate their base and face the Time Keepers. It’ll give her a chance to restore the original multiverse and bring back the timeline she lost. Her actions may also lead into Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s introduction of Spider-Man variants and forces Doctor Strange on the path to face the titular Multiverse of Madness. Whatever the future may hold, the introduction of this unique Variant will push the MCU’s multiverse into unfamiliar territory and the TVA will get quite a bit busier in the near future.

    Source: GamesRadar, Reddit

  • Orginal ‘Spider-Man’ Editor Bob Murawski Working on ‘Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness’

    Orginal ‘Spider-Man’ Editor Bob Murawski Working on ‘Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness’

    Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness has added another familiar face to its production crew. During a recent interview with Vanity Fair’s Still Watching podcast, the film’s writer Michael Waldron casually revealed that Bob Murawski had boarded the project. The news is significant, as Murawski is a long-time collaborator with director Sam Raimi. The pair previously worked together on all three original Spider-Man films, as well as Oz: The Great and Powerful, Army of Darkness, and Darkman.

    Other notable credits for Murawski include Orson Welles‘ recently finished film The Other Side of the Wind and Kathryn Bigelow‘s Academy Award-winning The Hurt Locker. He joins a growing list of frequent Raimi partners working on Marvel Studios’ highly-anticipated movie after composer Danny Elfman was confirmed to return earlier this year. Bruce Campbell has been rumored to cameo, but his involvement has not been officially confirmed.

    Raimi joined the production of Multiverse of Madness early last year after writer and director Scott Derrickson, who helmed the franchise’s first installment, left due to creative differences. The project marks Raimi‘s first comic book adaptation since 2007’s Spider-Man 3. Despite its original reception, there is an immense amount of excitement for his return to the world of superheroes, especially joining a Marvel Studios production. Raimi is a long-time fan of the Doctor Strange character and even included a reference to the Sorcerer Supreme in Spider-Man 2. The large-scale film is set to be one of Marvel’s most explosive entries in Phase 4.

    Source: Still Watching Podcast

  • Michael Waldron Praises Sam Raimi’s Work on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Michael Waldron Praises Sam Raimi’s Work on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, as Loki explores the effects of time travel and Doctor Strange ventures out into the multiverse. Vanity Fair sat down with writer Michael Waldron, who worked on both projects, to gain some insight into how he worked on the project. Luckily, he offered some insight into the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, which had quite the bumpy ride up until now.

    Originally, Scott Derrickson was going to direct and write the film alongside his writing partner C. Robert Cargill. He left due to creative differences but remained on board as a producer for the film. Then Marvel Studios announced that Evil Dead and Spider-Man director Sam Raimi joined the project. Waldron revealed that he had to rewrite the script from scratch and worked closely with the director on its script. In the before-mentioned interview, the writer teased Raimi‘s influence on the film:

    I can tell you that it’s a ride…very Sam Raimi. The film is incredibly visually thrilling. John Mathieson our DP, who shot Gladiator and Logan — I think the look of it is going to be unlike anything you’ve seen in the MCU before.

    It truly feels like Marvel Studios is exploring new ways to expand their cinematic offerings. Taika Waitti added his own visual flourishes to the Thor franchise and it seems Raimi will do the same. Doctor Strange is a franchise that has no visual restrictions and may offer a lot of opportunities to create a distinct visual style, especially as it expands into the multiverse. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for the trailer in the coming months to get a glimpse of the multiverse.

    Source: CinemaBlend, Vanity Fair

  • ‘Loki’ Head Writer Michael Waldron Teases ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Connection

    ‘Loki’ Head Writer Michael Waldron Teases ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Connection

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe has slowly changed throughout the years. Some stories were isolated while others would influence or have unforeseen consequences on the events of another. As Phase 4 starts to expand, we’re starting to notice that the stories being told are more interconnected than ever before. This appears to now have become the case with the release of Junes’ Disney+ show, Loki. According to Michael Waldron, the head writer for Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there could be a potential connection between the timeline shenanigans of both projects. In an interview with Total Film, Waldron teased the connection when discussing the Doctor Strange sequel:

    All of these stories, in their own way, are interconnected, and have ramifications. I think that certainly our aim with the Loki series was for it to have wide-reaching ramifications across the MCU moving forward. So, you know, was I having to clean up some of the messes that I made [with Loki]? Maybe so.

    In the past, we’ve theorized about how multiple projects could potentially tie into the coveted Multiverse of Madness besides the recent debut of WandaVision and the upcoming release of Spider-Man: No Way Home. With Loki delving into what occurs when variants alter the timeline and create branches into alternate realities, it seems as though the Sorceror Supreme could potentially have a lot on his plate by the time we reach the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness once it airs next year.

    Source: TotalFilm

  • REPORT: First Plot Details for ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Revealed

    REPORT: First Plot Details for ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Revealed

    We’ve been excited for the future of Marvel Studios as they start embracing the multiverse. There have been various rumors hinting at Spider-Man: No Way Home exploring the vast incarnations of the characters, but there is one project that wears it proudly. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will thrust Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Stephen Strange into the countless realities that could’ve been. Story details still remain under wraps, but it looks like Illuminerdi got their hands on some interesting details for the upcoming film.

    According to them, the intergalactic being Shuma Gorath, whose inclusion has been teased some time ago, will have close ties to Xochitl Gomez‘s America Chavez. Her abilities would give him full control over the multiverse. Illuminerdi reveals that he will be the main antagonist of the project. No word on how Wanda Maximoff will fit into the overarching story.

    Gorath hunting down Chavez is an interesting story element that may be the reason that Strange ends up exploring the multiverse. The ending of WandaVision could hint that the Sorcerer Supreme stumbles upon Wanda, who is exploring a part of the multiverse to find her children. Perhaps they might even have a connection to the Eldritch being instead of being parts of Mephisto’s soul. There are a lot of angles they can take with this film and it’ll be exciting to see what direction Sam Raimi and Marvel Studios take when bringing it to life.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • Update: Mads Mikkelsen Will Not Return in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Update: Mads Mikkelsen Will Not Return in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Update: the author of the original IndieWire article has since said the Doctor Strange information was erroneous.

    With an entire multiverse to be explored in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, you can expect quite a sizeable cast. A new report claims that a previous Marvel Cinematic Universe villain is making a grand comeback in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. According to IndieWire, Mads Mikkelsen will reprise his role as the mystic zealot Kaecilius. He was one of the main antagonists in Stephen Strange’s debut in the MCU back in 2016. His ultimate goal was to obtain power at any cost, even granting Dormammu the Earth to access the Dark Dimension. By the end of the film, Kaecilius and his two remaining followers were overtaken by Dormammu and become the beings known as Mindless Ones.

    With his fate being left open in the air, it would be interesting to see how exactly Kaecilius could return. It’s natural to assume that he will certainly be different from what his character originally was in the first film. As the film tackles the Multiverse, it is possible that we could see the Sorcerer Supreme travel once more to the Dark Dimension. His last bargain did piss off a deity beyond their comprehension and could end badly. He could also be a version of Kaecillius that didn’t get obsessed with power. Either way, more Mads Mikkelsen in the MCU is a definite bonus to what is already a pretty sizeable film. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is slated to release on March 25th, 2022.

    Source: IndieWire

  • Theory Thursday: Scarlet Witch’s Fate in the ‘Doctor Strange’ Sequel

    Theory Thursday: Scarlet Witch’s Fate in the ‘Doctor Strange’ Sequel

    With principal photography for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness approaching its end and a near-perfect “no-leak” track record, fans are pretty much going blind into the highly anticipated sequel. With a stellar character lineup up like Doctor Strange, Baron Mordo, Wong, Christine Palmer, America Chavez, and more, we can certainly expect to be in for a spectacle the likes we may have not yet seen in the MCU. However, there is one character that fans are excited to make a return to the big screen following her Disney+ series, Wanda Maximoff the Scarlet Witch.

     

     

    The story will continue where WandaVision left off. How exactly it ties in from the post-credit scene remains a mystery. We are also unaware of what she’s been doing for the past year since the events of WestView, which took place just weeks after Avengers: Endgame. The Doctor Strange sequel will take place in 2024. Our first clue at her role stems from Agatha Harkness’ Darkhold prophecy:

    The Scarlet Witch is not born, she is forged. She has no coven, no need for incantation. Your power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme. It’s your destiny to destroy the world.

    There is a good chance that the prophecy may take place in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel. Wanda could end manipulated by whomever the real villain in this story is and put in a position where she sacrifices the world to save her children. We got the hint at their existence in WandaVision‘s post-credit scene. There’s also one other question that has everyone’s attention. What happens to Wanda’s story as the film concludes? Does her story conclude along with it? If she truly is meant to destroy the world, how will Doctor Strange handle her? Will he be forced to break his oath as a doctor and take life to guarantee the safety of the multiverse?

     

    A Scarlet Case of Amnesia

     

    It may sound tragic, but it could potentially be the most humane way of saving both Wanda Maximoff and the world. This theory is actually not far off from the comics. After the events of House of M, the world went back to normal, and Wanda Maximoff disappeared from the face of the Earth. Even Doctor Strange couldn’t find her. She eventually reappeared in New Avengers #26, where Wanda was found in a village, with no memories of her time as an Avenger or as the Scarlet Witch. She even didn’t believe in magic when we see her again. I suspect that Marvel Studios could potentially adopt a version of this plot device for the film.

     

     

    Doctor Strange has one truly defining trait in comparison to others. He lives by the Hippocratic Oath. This oath is taken by physicians worldwide where they promise to bring no harm to another human. It was first acknowledged in the first Doctor Strange film, right after he took the life of one of Kaecilius’ acolytes, promising that he wouldn’t do that ever again. He became a doctor to “save lives, not take them.” There’s also a second medical element that Dr. Strange uses later on in Avengers: Infinity War, which is known as “triage.”

    It is how he prioritizes tasks, such as prioritizing the Time Stone over Tony and Peter’s lives because “the universe” depended on it. It will be interesting to see if the film will bring Doctor Strange’s moral system into question by making him decide what’s more important: saving the multiverse or the life of one singular being out of pity. By erasing her mind, it allows Strange to do both as he would technically “erase” Scarlet Witch while still saving Wanda Maximoff and ensures that the dimensional rifts don’t destroy the multiverse.

  • Murphy’s Law: Episode 88

    Murphy’s Law: Episode 88

    Charles and Charles talk about Alfred Molina’s blatant disregard for spoilers, Jon Favreau’s return, Lucy Liu joining Shazam! 2 and more!

  • Theory Thursday: How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ May Set-Up the Captain Britain Corps

    Theory Thursday: How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ May Set-Up the Captain Britain Corps

    The many corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are expanding. As such, Marvel Studios has shifted its focus on exploring beyond the boundaries of the main timeline. With the upcoming expansion into the Multiverse and subsequent exploration of it, I want to talk about a specific organization. Their sole purpose in the comics was to guard that very Multiverse and why, moving forward, Marvel Studios should introduce an iconic organization from the comics and, more importantly, the hero connected to it.

     

    A Brief Comic History Lesson

     

    We all know the name Merlin. The sorcerer from the Tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. He helps the king in battle and aids him with his magic. Did you know that he has a very prominent role in Marvel Comics? He is the one who ends up coining the term “Multiverse” and established the Captain Britain Corps. The reason is that Great Britain serves as the nexus of all dimensions. As such, he once protected the veil between realities as the Sorcerer Supreme before the Ancient One took the title. To ensure the Multiverse’s safety, he ensured that each universe had a man holding the Captain Britain title.

     

    The MCU Connection

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will arrive in 2022, and it’ll give Marvel Studios the perfect opportunity to sneak in a reference or two to the multiversal organization. Of course, it would be a waste not to talk about its founder, whose history as the Sorcerer Supreme makes him a perfect candidate for an appearance. Luckily, the ever-expanding universe has also added another brief mention that connects to the multiversal protection corp. It may not be a coincidence that Britain is not only a Nexus point but also the filming location for the sequel may not be a coincidence.

     

     

    Do you remember the final commercial in the seventh episode of WandaVision? Almost every single commercial in the show was a direct reference to something in Wanda Maximoff’s grief. Yet, the only commercial that many of us didn’t recognize was the Nexus pills. In a way, it could imply an event that has yet to occur. I suspect that it references “The Nexus of All Realities,” which first got referenced in the MCU by Dr. Erik Selvig during Thor: The Dark World. At the time, it connected to the Nine Realms, but it looks like that was just the beginning.

     

    Just the Beginning

    The Captain Britain Corps Has Been Reborn in Marvel's Universe

     

    As such, I believe that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will explore Sorcerer Supremes of the past. It’ll also lead to the introduction of the Captain Britain Corps. The Scarlet Witch’s involvement with the film and her connection as a “nexus being” may also cause a crack in the Multiverse in Great Britain. Once Strange escaped the horrors of the Multiverse, the Nexus may remain unguarded. Someone will take on that role, which will allow Marvel Studios to introduce Captain Britain into the MCU.

  • ‘WANDAVISION’: Escaping Westview

    ‘WANDAVISION’: Escaping Westview

    After JJ’s piece on how Wanda and The Vision might have gotten themselves where we found them, living a seemingly idyllic life in the small town of Westview, it’s time to try and figure out how they might get out of that predicament.

    It has been made somewhat clear, through TV spots and such, that WandaVision is set in a sort of Pocket Reality. We take it that it was something created by Wanda’s own reality-warping powers even if the implications of it all, on the outside world, might escape her. The fact that she was able to rewind the action at the sight of the “beekeeper” shows us she is still a bit in control, but the way we constantly S.W.O.R.D. (Agent Jimmy Woo?) trying to contact her, asking “Who is doing this to you?” shows us that she probably is being coerced by someone else. Even if she isn’t aware of it.

    Having Wanda stuck in a situation like this might bring a lot of both physical or metaphysical rewards to whoever is behind it. But to Wanda herself, the rewards are the perfect life she never had the chance to live. With Vision and her children by her side, she couldn’t be happier, even if it’s all a fabrication. This way, with her subconscious drawing from the sitcoms that shaped her “perfect life” ideals, she avoids the real world at all costs, the one filled with death and loss, while trying to remain impervious to whatever might stand in her happiness’ way.

    But we’ve already seen how S.W.O.R.D. is actively trying to get in contact with her inside that fictitious bubble. The outside world probably isn’t being able to deal with the situation she helped create, and she must be convinced to fight against whatever is compelling her to keep up the charade. This won’t be an easy task since it would mean for her to lose The Vision once again, and to lose the children and the life she envisioned having with the love of her life. She would have to face the reality that she wouldn’t be able to have it all, no matter what. She will have to destroy her life in order for others, that might not really appreciate her for being different, might have a chance to live. For a regular person, this would already be extremely hard to deal with. For someone like Wanda, that already had to endure so much loss throughout her life, that has the power to warp reality itself, this might just be the tipping point, and it might break her.

    Her next appearance is set to be in Doctor Strange: In The Multiverse of Madness. If the events of WandaVision do indeed go the way we’re expecting, Wanda might be a very different character by the time the Doctor Strange sequel comes around, and we should be contemplating the possibility of her being (one of) that movie’s antagonist(s).