Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: doctor strange in the multiverse of madness

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Director Offers Details on 616 Mordo’s Grisly Fate

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Director Offers Details on 616 Mordo’s Grisly Fate

    There has long been a rumored sequence teased where Mordo would take on Wanda Maximoff in an earlier draft of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. During the commentary track from the latest digital release, as shared by Insider, director Sam Raimi reveals just how that sequence was going to end up. It looks like he was going to face a terrible fate and already hint at the brutal takedowns Wanda was going to execute upon the Illuminati.

    Michael had written an early scene with Chiwetel where we saw him in our universe, 616, where he was the Mordo that we knew from ‘Doctor Strange 1.’ Only he had been through many battles since that. He had a limp, and he was coming after the Scarlet Witch to take her power because he knew she was dark and terribly corrupted by the Darkhold. She killed him and cut off his head. Presented it to Strange in a later scene.

    Sam Raimi

    While praising the work by writer Michael Waldron, he does reveal that it slowed down the beginning and it was the reason it was dropped from the script. It also would’ve given away her dark turn quite early on and the mystery did add a little something special early on.

    What seemed like a sequence that would be dragged out throughout the film was swiftly pushed to the side and we got some creative creature designs. Plus, it kept us on edge when the actual takedown happens during the meeting with the Illuminati. Plus, it also keeps Mordo’s fate open and not just kill him off before truly exploring his rivalry with Strange more.

    Source: Insider

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Producer on Making the Mr. Fantastic Fan Cast a Reality

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Producer on Making the Mr. Fantastic Fan Cast a Reality

    John Krasinski joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the role he’s been fan-cast ever since an image made the rounds of him looking like Mr. Fantastic from the comics. Many years later, he would arrive in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. Many wondered if this opens up the potential of him taking on the role in the mainline MCU, but while it’s not confirmed, producer Richie Palmer revealed why he was cast in the commentary track (as quoted by The Direct).

    It’s so funny that Kevin [Feige] cast John [Krasinski] because the fans had a dream of who the perfect Reed Richards would be. And because this is an alternate universe, I think Kevin said, ‘Let’s make that dream come true.’ I’ve always really enjoyed all of his performances.’

    Richie Palmer

    It’s something that once again highlights just how much Marvel Studios listens to fans and it’s incredible that they were able to make it a reality. Krasinski and Marvel Studios have not given away if there’s a future for him with the franchise, but it definitely was a cameo alongside Anson Mount‘s return as Black Bolt that had many excited for the future of these characters.

    They also confirmed that Mr. Fantastic uses Doctor Doom’s Time Platform to appear in the sequences, which many theorized due to the visual design that is also not too different from the TVA’s transportation device. So, we may see more of it moving forward, and here’s hoping we ‘ll get more teases of the Fantastic Four joining the MCU at one point.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Producer Highlights Wanda and Strange’s Importance to the MCU’s Phase 4

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Producer Highlights Wanda and Strange’s Importance to the MCU’s Phase 4

    Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been an interesting experience for many. Each project has been a bit more self-contained without a clear build-up, outside of Loki‘s set-up of what is very likely the final conflict of this new saga, and has led to some confusion about what the future has in store. Without an Avengers film on the horizon, many wondered when these newly introduced heroes would truly unite and who will take on the key roles that Steve Rogers and Tony Stark had in the Infinity Saga.

    Well, producer Richie Palmer has highlighted that “Doctor Strange is the anchor of Phase 4” and “Wanda Maximoff is the jewel in the crown.” Especially Elisabeth Olsen‘s time as Wanda has gone through a major shift with her tale in WandaVision and turn to villainy in the Doctor Strange sequel (transcript provided by The Direct). He highlights them as follows:

    Yeah, it’s crazy to see Wanda act like this for the first time, it’s so exciting. And for fans of the comics, we were so excited to bring this to screen and finally deliver on the promise. Once you introduce the character of the Scarlet Witch, even before she was the Scarlet Witch, we introduced her in Age of Ultron, there was always the hope that we can bring her to this place of her doing things like [infiltrating Kamar Taj]. And it’s really exciting, and she is the best. If Doctor Strange is the anchor of the MCU of Phase 4, then Wanda Maximoff is the jewel in the crown.

    Richie Palmer

    While he doesn’t point to their role in the new saga, which Kevin Feige has teased may become clearer in the coming months. They are seemingly building up towards a Secret Wars crossover which would require some of the strongest universe-defying characters to bring some logic to it. So, who knows if perhaps the remnants of the Dakrhold are the incursion that was just waiting to unleash them unto Battleworld.

    Source: The Direct

  • First ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Draft Included Wasp as Illuminati Member

    First ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Draft Included Wasp as Illuminati Member

    We’ve always wondered who else was going to be part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ Illuminati. The potential of exploring a multiversal take on the secret organization that mirrors the Sacred Timeline’s Avengers was filled with potential. We got some truly amazing additions in the form of Charles Xavier, Captain Carter, Mr. Fantastic, Black Bolt, and even an alternative Captain Marvel. Not too long ago we learned that there were plans to include Namor, but it seems there was one more member that was going to join.

    On the digital releases’ commentary track for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, writer Michael Waldron offered some insight into how he brought the script together. While teasing that he was inspired by Aliens and didn’t think Marvel would let him, the heroes ended up as fodder for the Scarlet Witch in the film. Among them was going to be the Wasp as well, who faced a swift end as well.

    Yeah, I think I watched Aliens and was just thinking about the way those Marines get massacred, and, yeah, I was glad it worked. “I think originally, the Wasp was in a version of the Illuminati, and the Wasp shrunk down and flew at Wanda, and [Wanda] just clapped her hands and just smushed the Wasp in the first draft.

    Michael Waldron

    It definitely would’ve been interesting to see the Wasp try to heroically take on Wanda for her only to get taken out in the simplest way possible. Of course, she would be powerful enough to break free from someone clapping but the master of chaos magic isn’t just your regular enemy. There’s no detail on which version of Wasp that was going to be, but it definitely is an interesting detail that could’ve been.

    Source: The Direct

  • Benedict Cumberbatch on Returning for a Potential ‘Doctor Strange 3’

    Benedict Cumberbatch on Returning for a Potential ‘Doctor Strange 3’

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has made its way to Disney+, as the film had just recently passed $400M domestically and $900M worldwide. The film was quite a success and among director Sam Raimi‘s highest-earning productions. Of course, it leaves us with the question of when or where Doctor Strange may return.

    It turns out that Benedict Cumberbatch is also excited to return and shared that he’s definitely down for a sequel. In an interview with New Indian Express, he opens up on how much he enjoys playing the character and his hope to continue playing him.

    I hope so. I would love to do another one. Doctor Strange is such a complex character and it feels like there is so much more to explore with him. He is such a brilliant character and I’m still having a wild time playing him.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    Cumberbatch has definitely given us one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most complex characters in the form of Doctor Strange. A man always on the edge of doing something for the greater good no matter the consequences made him quite morally grey.

    Among the many heroes, he’ll stop at nothing even if it means possessing the dead body of a version of himself from a different dimension while turning demons into his cape. It definitely was one of the most iconic moments in the franchise and continues to define what makes this character so interesting.

    Source: New Indian Express

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’s ‘Assembled’ Episode to Release in July on Disney+

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’s ‘Assembled’ Episode to Release in July on Disney+

    We’re only a few more hours away from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness finding its way to Disney+. While the film will still be available in theaters, it does seem like people will be given Marvel’s first true trip into horror another shot from the safety of their home. Well, it seems that fans will get a little extra, as on July 1st we’ll also get the Assembled entry from the latest Marvel Studios film.

    Disney Plus Informer has shared the release date, which will follow a week right after its Disney+ premiere. The timing is also perfect to build up some momentum for the release of Thor: Love and Thunder which is also set to fire up the box office. The entry will be titled Assembled: The Making of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    Sadly, it seems the future episodes will remain as individual episodes rather than summarized under the Assembled banner. It does continue to imply that they simply draw in more viewers individually rather than as a continuing series. Who knows they might get combined in the future, but it’s great that they are continuing the tradition of adding new entries once a film is added to the streaming service.

    Source: Disney Plus Informer

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Passes $400M at the Domestic Box Office

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Passes $400M at the Domestic Box Office

    While Top Gun Maverick has managed to pass the $400M domestic as the legacy title is pulling in some amazing numbers worldwide, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness wasn’t too far behind. The film faced a harsh drop in its second weekend, which isn’t too uncommon with frontloaded crowd-pleasers but has showcased its horror roots by staying quite consistent throughout the rest of its run. As of now, the film has pulled in $935M worldwide and now officially stands at $400.3M domestically.

    There was some concern the film wouldn’t even hit the $900M mark but it has left that behind quite a bit. The film will release on Disney+ on June 22nd, which will still give it some time to potentially scratch the $940M mark. As per usual, the international cum is the strongest for the Marvel Studios entry and while Top Gun has taken a lot of accolades for its powerful jet-fueled wings, the Marvel project proves that the market is still ready for a variety of films to pull in massive box office numbers.

    Maverick also is sharing a similar trend that we saw with Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens back in the day. After a long pause at the box office, the films have managed to make quite a splash domestically and in international markets. There’s a different kind of energy to these projects that complement Marvel Studios’ approach to genre-mixing giving it a unique standing and longevity in the market. We might see the box office evolve in interesting ways moving forward.

    Source: The Numbers

  • ‘Top Gun Maverick’ Beats ‘Doctor Strange 2’ to $400M Domestically

    ‘Top Gun Maverick’ Beats ‘Doctor Strange 2’ to $400M Domestically

    Top Gun: Maverick continues to fly high. The Tom Cruise-led film has crossed the $400 million mark at the domestic box office, making it the highest-grossing movie of the year, pulling ahead of Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is sitting at $398.7 million domestically as of Monday. With a $401.8 million domestic haul, so far, Maverick has also earned a spot as the second-highest grossing movie of the pandemic following Spider-Man: No Way Home. When all is said and done, Top Gun: Maverick will easily find itself in the billion-dollar club at the worldwide box office.

    As for Jurassic World: Dominion, the dino-flick pulled in another $12.7 million on Monday, bringing its four-day total to a decent $157.7 million. While that’s a less than impressive Monday haul for the month of June, it’s still notable during a pandemic. For comparison’s sake, though, Dominion’s first Monday was below 2015’s Jurassic World ($25.3 million) and 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ($14.7 million). With the release of Lightyear this weekend, Dominion is expected to see a fair 58% drop in its second weekend with experts predicting it’ll pull in another $61 million.

    With a fresh rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear looks likely to upset Maverick and Dominion at the box office this weekend. As to how high Lightyear will fly, however, remains to be seen.

    Source: Deadline

  • Hayley Atwell Teases Her Future With the MCU Beyond ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Hayley Atwell Teases Her Future With the MCU Beyond ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Hayley Atwell has been a mainstay with the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since the first Captain America film. While she hasn’t had a major role in the films, she got her own TV show with two seasons and was a recurring character throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga. Many were surprised when she returned as Captain Carter in the What If…? series only to also reappear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    During a panel at 2022’s Awesome Con, as shared by the Cosmic Circus, Hayley Atwell was asked about her future and highlighted her experience playing her and hopes to grow beyond just being “a minor player” within the MCU. Yet, in regards to her future, she could only share the following:

    Well…I haven’t got news for you. But I share your enthusiasm. And I would love to if Marvel did find a home for her; that’s a home that feels worthy of her in terms of her evolution as a character and development as a character:

    Hayley Atwell

    There have been rumors that Marvel Studios is considering a live-action Captain Carter project, but it has not been officially unveiled. Plus, it would be quite surprising for viewers that saw her death at the hand of Wanda Maximoff in the Doctor Strange sequel. The multiverse is vast but it could become a challenge if they start introducing characters that don’t exist within the main MCU timeline. Yet, it could also open up many new opportunities to tell stories they otherwise couldn’t.

    Source: Cosmic Circus

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Passes $900M Worldwide

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Passes $900M Worldwide

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been a popular discussion point regarding its harsh drop in its second weekend at around 67%. Yet, the film is proving that it has quite the legs to keep going as the film has now officially passed $900M worldwide. It still held strong as Top Gun: Maverick had one of the smallest drops at the box office for a film with over $100M, highlighting the film’s rather unique standing in the current climate. Films generally with such frontloading drop around 50% It’s highlighting more that it’s the exception rather than the rule.

    Yet, we are here to discuss Doctor Strange‘s success at the box office. While the film is very unlikely to pass a billion at this rate, it does seem like it’ll end in the mid-$900M range. As of now, the film is already at $909.4M with a domestic release standing at $388.7M. At this rate,e it’ll beat Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘s 389.8M and Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s $390.5M. It should pass the $400M mark which we haven’T seen in a long time domestically.

    The film is also facing a smaller drop than The Batman and Captain America Civil War in its fifth weekend, which highlights that the film was probably the most frontloaded we’ve seen in a while. Some of the hype surrounding the film gave it an Avengers-style momentum but it’s horror elements may have caught audiences by surprise given its B+ score. Even with that word-of-mouth score, the film has had some strong legs, which isn’t uncommon for the horror genre. Plus, as a sequel, it has left its predecessor that already strongly performed at $676M in the dust and adds weight to a third addition passing a billion.

    Source: Variety, Twitter