Tag: Doctor Strange

‘Doctor Strange’ and a Multitude of Cameos: Exploring the Film’s Many Rumors
Besides a few hints and plenty of rumors, we know very little about Doctor Strange’s travel through the multiverse. The aptly titled Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will build upon the events of Loki and will follow after Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet, the multiverse opens up the franchise to what seems like endless possibilities. We know that Wanda Maximoff will return after the events of WandaVision, as she searches for her children throughout the multiverse. America Chavez will also make her MCU debut with the upcoming film. Yet, there are countless more rumors So, let’s take a closer look at the multitude of cameos and appearances rumored for the sequel.

Let’s start with those that might have larger roles in the film. A recent Funko Pop leak teases the addition of different Variants of Strange and Wong. There will be Supreme and Defenders versions, which may or may not be allies in their multiversal travels. It also included the naming of Rintrah, who Adam Hugill is reported to be playing. The iconic comic character will also get a Funko alongside the Variants, which may hint at them having a somewhat larger role in the story.

The only hint at an overarching villain we got was the hint at the appearance of the multiversal being, Shuma-Gorath. The upcoming What If series may have hinted at his inclusion, and he seems like the perfect choice for this type of storyline. He’ll likely connect to the appearance of America Chavez, whose abilities may become the catalyst for the overarching narrative in the film. Now that we got the bigger roles out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the various teased or rumored cameos for the upcoming film:
- After his adventure on Disney+ and unleashing said multiverse, there are already hints that Tom Hiddleston’s Loki might appear in the film in some capacity. It makes sense, but it would be confusing with how the last season ended.
- Speaking of Disney+, Wanda’s inclusion also opened up the possibility of WandaVision cameos in the film. We got hints that Treyonah Parris‘ Monica Rambeau could appear in the sequel ahead of her appearance in The Marvels.
- With Sam Raimi at the helm, theories of a Bruce Campbell cameo made the rounds quite early. His appearance near the shooting location didn’t help matters, and it’s safe to say he will be featured in some capacity.
- As What If explores the multiverse, it seemed plausible some character might transfer over into the Doctor Strange sequel. Well, it seems that Haley Atwell’s Captain Carter is the most likely candidate to appear. Rumors were hinting at her appearance, and the latest Marvel Legends reveal may have confirmed it.
- Lastly, we got a Namor reference with the potential appearance of the water monster Gargantos. It may be a re-used version of the underwater creature, who hasn’t had a strong presence in the comics. So, they may also be minions of Shuma-Gorath due to their similar tentacle design.
There are quite a few rumors and who knows what else might appear online in the coming months, ahead of its release. At one point, Mads Mikkelsen was rumored to make a grand return before it swiftly got debunked. It was a given that the moment Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange jumped into the multiverse that almost any possible appearance has become a possibility. So, if the rumors surrounding Spider-Man: No way Home turns out true, who knows if they may also connect with Strange’s upcoming adventure with his appearance confirmed. So, we’ll see if this list ends up growing as time goes on.
July 31, 2021
‘WHAT IF…?’ Marvel Legends Arrive, Hint at a Live-Action Captain Carter

During today’s Hasbro Pulse Fan First Wednesday, the latest wave of Marvel Legends, this time for the upcoming animated series What If…?, were revealed and may have given away more than just a good look at the characters. The wave, which goes up for pre-order this afternoon at 1:00 PM ET, comes with 7 figures and a Build-A-Figure Uatu. Of the 7, 6 are set to debut in the Disney Plus streaming series What If…?, and the other is labeled “Marvel’s Sylvie” from the recently concluded Loki series. A closer look at the packaging for each character reveals that Haley Atwell’s Captain Carter is called “Marvel’s Captain Carter”, an indication that the character may well make the transition to live-action.

There have been rumors that Carter would appear in an upcoming live-action project, but this is the first evidence of that possibility. The labeling seems intentional to set Captain Carter apart from the other What If…? characters, none of which are labeled as “Marvel’s” characters.

The rest of the wave is comprised of T’Challa as Star-Lord, “Heist” Nebula, Zombie Captain America, a Zombie Hunter Spidey and Doctor Strange Supreme. These Variant characters are likely to be revealed as having come into existence following the death of He Who Remains at the hands of Sylvie, making her inclusion here sensible.

If one had to hazard a guess as to when we might expect Atwell’s Captain Carter to appear, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would seemingly be a heavy favorite as it is expected to deal with the fallout of Loki.

What If…? will begin streaming weekly on Disney Plus on August 11th.

July 28, 2021
Namor Connection Teased in ‘Doctor Strange’ Sequel Casting

It looks like Shuma-Gorath might not be the only tentacle monster in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel. A listing by actress Yenifer Molina reveals she has a role in Sam Raimi‘s film. What stands out is that her character’s name is Gargantos 2. Long-time comics fans might recognize it as a sea monster under the control of the Lemurian known as Naga. They only appeared in 1969’s Sub-Mariner #13 and X-Factor Annual #4 in 1989 but vanished since.

Its inclusion in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is quite a surprise. We still have no idea how Strange will travel through the multiverse and if each pocket dimension gets a unique arc. Her acting credits include minor roles as an office worker in Detective Pikachu and a waitress on HBO Max’s Tom and Jerry. So, this role might only have a minor part in the film. We don’t know how many universes the doctor will travel through. The creature’s backstory connects to Namor. So, it would make sense that they’d appear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will potentially feature the character.

The Funko leaks hinted at Supreme and Defender Variants of Doctor Strange. So, they may end up joining their multiversal counterparts in their story. Moviegoers might get introduced to the concept of the Serpent Crown, which got tossed into a pocket dimension for safekeeping. It got created by the Elder Gods, which could connect back to Shuma-Gorath. Perhaps it is the McGuffin necessary to stop the Devourer God from taking over the multiverse.

Source: Mandy

July 26, 2021
New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Funko Leak Teases Multiple Strange Variants

It looks like a new Funko Pop list has found its way online that leaks some rather interesting new additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It includes a list of characters for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Hawkeye, and Ms. Marvel. There aren’t many surprised in the Disney+ list, but the Strange sequel has the most interesting teases. The list includes the known characters of Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Christine Palmer, Mordo, America Chavez, and Rintrah.

That is not all, as it also teases different Variants of our titular hero and Wong. The list includes Supreme Strange, Defender Strange, and Defender Wong. The Defender naming could be a new costume, but the inclusion of Supreme Strange, who is to make his debut in the upcoming What If series hints at him facing different Variants across the multiverse. Instagram user mariobros612 shared the leak.

View this post on Instagram

The inclusion of the dark version of Doctor Strange is a curious one. In a way, it makes sense he would join the live-action adaptation, as we did see a regular version of the character in the first What If trailer. So, the series and his upcoming film might intersect at some point, which also adds some credence to the live-action inclusion of Haley Atwell’s Captain Carter. It’s only been a few days since she was rumored to appear in the Doctor Strange sequel. So, the inclusion of his What If counterpart adds more credence to this rumor. The film is set to release in March and we might get a trailer before the end of the year that may finally hint at how much of the multiverse Strange will face in the upcoming film.

Source: Instagram

July 25, 2021
7 Characters/Teams Ready to Join The Marvel Cinematic Multiverse

The finale of Loki saw an infinite number of timelines break free from the Sacred Timeline. Infinite branches (we think) mean infinite possibilities for new characters and their stories to be told across the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. The Multiverse has existed in the comics for over 40 years and there are hundreds of characters and dozens of stories that have already been told. Here are seven that are ready to join the MCM.

The Beyonder

Perhaps no one character is more synonymous with the idea of the multiverse than The Beyonder. THE Beyonder is one of a race of incredibly powerful beings who can shape reality at will. THE Beyonder is essentially a child by their standards and, like a child, became sort of fascinated by toying with lesser beings…humans. The Beyonder is sort of a big deal in Secret Wars circles and since it seems like that’s where the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse is headed, it shouldn’t be long before we see him or his people (who happen to have a connection to another member of this list).

Captain Britain

Over the last 13 years, the inspiration for the MCU has seemed to lean heavily in certain creators’ directions at times. As Charles Villanueva detailed here, we’ve seen heavy doses of Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and more in the first 3 phases. We’ve gotten a pretty good dose of Mark Gruenwald this year. Now it may be Chris Claremont and Alan Davis‘ turn to see their creations move from the page to the screen. The multiverse means other Earths and other realities and in the comics it is the job of each reality’s Captain Britain to protect it. All realities converge in the pocket dimension known as Otherworld where, occasionally, the Captain Britains from each reality meet as the Captain Britain Corps. We’ve had a Braddock tease in the MCU already and now that the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse is here, it’s time for Claremont, whose seminal X-Men run should also find its way to the MCU eventually, and Davis to shine!

The Exiles

A team consisting of an ever evolving roster of heroes plucked from different realities, the Exiles seem about as sure a thing as any to make the jump from the comics to the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. While the initial team was comprised of mutants from different realities, other teams have included non-mutant heroes like Spidey and a Captain America and even Valeria Richards from a reality where she found her self with the powers of both her parents. The Exiles could be an awful lot of fun as a Disney Plus series and seems just like the kind of team Marvel Studios would be keen to get in the MCM sooner rather than later as they could have several seasons without ever using the same team, allowing them to introduce dozens of characters if they chose.

The Living Tribunal

We first heard the character’s name in Doctor Strange and, we think, saw his head in the Void in Loki, so maybe it’s time we finally meet The Living Tribunal. One of the most powerful Cosmic entities in the Marvel Universe, The Living Tribunal is tasked with keeping the mystical side of the multiverse in balance; in that way, he’s like a Master of the Mystic Arts for the multiverse. That’s great because it means the seeds for understanding what his job is have already kind of been sewn in the audiences heads, meaning we’d need less exposition and, hopefully, get more action. It makes a LOT of sense for this character to make his debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Miles Morales

No character on this list would make thousands if not millions of fans, including myself, happier. A Spider-Man from another Earth that took on the mantle after witnessing the death of Peter Parker, Miles Morales is already well-known thanks to Sony’s animated hit, Into the Spider-Verse. 3 Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home already seems like a lot, so 4 would seem like overkill, but you can’t argue that the road has been paved for Miles to make his way to the MCM; all Sony and Marvel Studios have to do is walk down it together.

Molecule Man

Jonathan Hickman loves nothing more than reinventing Marvel Comics characters (well maybe he likes drawing diagrams and writing appendices more, but it’s close) and his reinvention of Owen Reece, the Molecule Man, was nothing short of genius. During his Avengers run that lead to Secret Wars, it was revealed that a Reece existed on every alternate Earth and that their death would result in that Earth’s premature destruction: Reece was a multiversal constant linked to the existence of his world. Reece is also one of the most powerful beings in the entire multiverse, with the power to manipulate and reshape matter at the molecular level and the ability to reshape and project energy at will. The new Marvel Cinematic Multiverse gives the Molecule Man a chance to step into the spotlight.

The Squadron Supreme

A group of heroes that seem awfully familiar to DC’s Justice League, the Squadron Supreme hail from Earth-712 where they served as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Despite being JL analogues, the individuals on the team actually end up being pretty interesting in their own rights and if we’re doing alternate Earths, I can think of no better team to bring to the MCM. They were rumored to appear in the first season of Loki and while that didn’t happen, fans can hold out hope that with the multiverse opened up, we might see them in Season 2.

With new Earths come new story telling possibilities. Let’s hope the story tellers love some of these characters enough to get them into the MCM.

July 20, 2021
How Disney+ Could Adapt ‘Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade’

Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is well underway with the premiere of its Disney+ shows. There have been several motifs that have been recurring across the last three Marvel Studios entries. One of these elements is the subtle nods to the next generation of heroes. With the introductions of several characters like Billy and Tommy Maximoff, Elijah Bradley, Kid Loki, Cassie Lang, Riri Williams, Kate Bishop, and America Chavez, all of this leads towards the very likely possibility that the MCU is setting up the introduction of the Young Avengers for Phase 4 or beyond. So, it’s time for a live-action adaptation of The Children’s Crusade storyline.

In the comics, it is a coming-of-age story following House of M. Wanda Maximoff goes missing. So, the Young Avengers set out to find her in an adventure filled with unexpected twists and turns. With the MCU loosely adapting their version of House of M for WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it seems fitting that the follow-up to follow in this saga would be The Children’s Crusade. Especially because it mainly focuses on Billy Kaplan and Thomas Shepherd, the reincarnations of Billy and Tommy Maximoff in the comics. After our brief introduction o them in WandaVision and a potential return in the upcoming Strange sequel, it’s time to follow their story.

How the series would play out

The Disney+ series would be a loose adaptation of the comics. The Young Avengers will be at the forefront of this story. At this point, they’ve already got introduced to another project. However, it will primarily focus on Wiccan and Speed as they search for a deeper understanding of their powers and who they are. Neither one realizes that they’re the other’s twin, but they find it curious that they look similar. I’d start the series with Billy and Tommy experiencing what they believe are very vivid nightmares that viewers might recognize. It later turns out that they are memories from their previous lives as the Maximoff twins.

They could have very weird, cryptic dreams similar to how WandaVision used fake commercials to showcase Wanda’s inner turmoil. As such, they would conclude that their dreams are a message to come and find Wanda Maximoff, who I believe will disappear following the events of the Doctor Strange sequel. Fearful of leaving their new friends behind, they ask for their help in this mission, and the team joins them without hesitation in their crusade.

The series will progress with a globe-trotting adventure, as they search for any clue that’ll lead them to Wanda. We’ll get to explore iconic locations linked to Wanda, such as Sokovia, Westview, New York, and many more. The team will eventually find her in a remote location. She has no memories or recollection of her past life as the Scarlet Witch. This, of course, confuses the team, but Billy and Tommy most of all. How could one of the most powerful individuals in the multiverse be reduced to a simple nobody? This is how we introduce the viewers to the antagonist of the series. Someone is pulling the strings all along. It turns out to be Agatha Harkness.

Agatha All Along Again

At one point, Agatha found a way to free herself from the Scarlet Witch’s binds and eventually reunite with the amnesiac Wanda. Taking pity on her, she treats her in a friendly, almost neighborly manner as she tries to search for ways to recuperate her magic from Wanda. This would draw a parallel to their first interaction in WandaVision. Agatha could potentially serve as the plot device to reveal to the team the true nature of Tommy and Billy, the fact they are indeed reincarnations of the Maximoff twins.

The dreams that the twins experienced at the beginning of the series are more than just memories. They’re a manipulation tactic by Agatha to lure the twins. She believed they were the key to regaining her powers but the plan failed. Agatha would be left with no choice but to try and kill the Young Avengers since they know of her plan. The twins face off against the individual responsible for their nightmares and trauma as kids. In the climax of the final battle, Wanda Maximoff regains her memory and aids the team in their battle against Harkness, thus defeating the witch once more and reuniting a family.

July 17, 2021
Tom Hiddleston Expected to Make an Appearance in ‘DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS’

The multiverse is real. The finale of Loki saw the Sacred Timeline branch off and create countless new realities and it also came with a warning that trouble was coming. It’s been known for some time now that Loki would share some connective tissue with the film that will most directly deal with the multiverse, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, especially since Michael Waldron, the creator of Loki, was brought on board to rewrite the Strange sequel when new director Sam Raimi took over; however, according to a trade report, the two projects are going to share more than the brains behind the operation. THR is reporting that Tom Hiddleston is set to appear in next year’s Doctor Strange sequel, reprising his role as (we think?) Prime Loki.

Season 1 of the streamer ended with Loki stuck at a remade TVA where nobody, including his bro Mobius, knew who he was. Disney used the finale to officially announce a second season of the series, but an appearance by Hiddleston in Multiverse of Madness means fans will get more Loki before Season 2, which I’ve heard is RUMORED to shoot next Spring, even gets underway. Since Loki is at the TVA, he can presumably get anywhere at any time, which could explain how he finds his way to Stephen Strange.

Source: THR

July 14, 2021
Marvel Studios ‘WandaVision’ Now Playing an Alternate Post Credit Scene

Is Wanda Maximoff messing with our broadcasts again? Could Agatha Harkness be behind it all? Could Loki’s misadventures across the Sacred Timeline have something to do with it? Maybe it could have been Mephisto All Along? Well, do not adjust your Disney+ accounts and your 1950’s television sets because what you are seeing is indeed real. Marvel Studios and Disney+ have updated the WandaVision post-credit scene from the “Series Finale” episode. While the series ended on March 5th, it seems that WandaVision still had one more surprise up their sleeves to keep fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe speculating on what’s to come.

An eagle-eyed Reddit user by the name of u/ANotCoolGuy seemed to have notice something particularly different regarding the post-credit scene of the 9th episode in the series. Take a look at his original video here.

WandaVision detail I noticed
byu/ANotCoolGuy inmarvelstudios

Upon spotting this detail, we went back to Disney+ to check out the scene for ourselves and we can confirm that it has indeed been updated. But that’s not the only thing that’s been updated. We did a side-by-side analysis of the post-credit scene from when it was first released in March 2021 and the post-credit scene that was uploaded recently and here’s what we found:

1. The Strange Silhoutte

When you watch the post-credit scene once again, you’ll notice a strange silhouette that descends from above on the top left corner of the screen. Now that silhouette could still be anyone or anything in particular. However, a very good guess would be that the silhouette could be Doctor Strange visiting Wanda Maximoff, either via astral projection or in-person. It could be a very good guess given that Wanda Maximoff’s next appearance is set in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, due out in 2022. When compared to the original post-credit scene in March, the original didn’t have this particular silhouette. But that’s not the only thing we noticed.

2. The Setting has also been updated

March 2021

June 2021

Take a look at this side-by-side comparison of the scenery in the same post-credit scene only 3 months apart. We can observe that the updated scene on the right has far more trees and has a bit of a different color palette compared to the original scene on the left. Now why exactly the scene’s setting and color palette have been altered months after its release is still unknown. One potential reason the scene could have been updated is that perhaps it could be used later on, potentially as a scene in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, similar to how the Ant-Man (2015) post-credit scene was used in Captain America: Civil War (2016).

3. The Credits have been updated as well

When comparing the credits of the 9th episode in March to the ones that are in the new updated episode, you’ll notice there is one key credit that was included this time around. Michael Giacchino, the composer of the original Doctor Strange theme for the film in 2016 was credited for the use of his theme in the post-credit scene of WandaVision. Not only does this confirm that the theme we hear in the post-credit is in fact a far more sinister version of the Doctor Strange theme, but it is also could help evidence the point that this scene does take place during the events of the second Doctor Strange film. How exactly it will play out remains to be seen when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on March 25, 2022.

June 27, 2021
Theory Tuesday: Exploring the Endgoal of Sophia Di Martino’s Loki Variant

The second episode of Loki (quite literally) dropped a bombshell on us. We got the reveal of Sophie Di Martino as the mysterious Loki Variant, the explosion of the multiple reset charges throughout the Sacred Timeline, and the possible introduction of the multiverse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it. The Disney+ series isn’t pulling any stops when it comes to its fast-paced action and thrilling storytelling. Now, many curious details deserve a closer inspection, but one thing has me wondering. Why exactly did the Variant create the multiverse, and what was her plan with the reset charges? It seems C-20, her prisoner throughout the episode, served a specific purpose, and it’s time to take a closer look.

The End of the Universe

Let’s start with something simple that may already have gotten alluded to by Mobius halfway through the second episode. When Loki asked what happens when the Time Keepers complete their duty to the timeline, Mobius teases what seems to be the end of the TVA’s job. They signal it as “peace” and “order” once they enter their timeline’s epilogue. But what if it didn’t end like that but just ends infinite chaos? The Sacred Timeline could be leading to an apocalyptic end, and that’s what the Loki Variant aims to avoid? The TVA’s blind trust in the Time Keepers could be a potential undoing that the newly introduced Variant wants to avoid.

The Birth of the Multiverse

Now, some details remain classified regarding the creation of time or the TVA. All we know is that there was a Multiversal War where various timelines battled for dominance before they were all condensed into the Sacred Timeline. Perhaps the idea that a multiverse exists is impossible to the TVA since they always pruned any potential branch that could’ve turned into an alternative timeline. Yet, is it possible that the multiverse continued to exist, and they never knew? Think about it. Why would the Ancient One ask Strange who he was in the “vast Multiverse” if the TVA constantly went out of their way to ensure it never existed in the first place. Is her understanding of a multiverse different, as we know the Dark and Mirror Dimension exist? There might be many more secrets existing beyond the red limit, and our new Loki is trying to restore it once more.

Something Far Worse

Perhaps, in the darkest corners of the universe, there is a being who is lying in wait for their opportunity to strike and take control of the universe. One of these beings could potentially be Shuma-Gorath, a character that has been rumored multiple times in the past to be coming to the MCU for the Doctor Strange sequel. We know that in the past, there was a multiversal war, but we don’t know which being fought for control of the multiverse. Could Shuma-Gorath be one of those beings? Is Sophia Di Martino‘s character perhaps an agent of chaos sent out by this mysterious being? He preserved her existence to ensure his goals are achieved. Perhaps C-20’s crazy ramblings are a result of coming face-to-face with the Eldrich-inspired being.

June 22, 2021
REPORT: Doctor Strange to Face a Tragic Future in a ‘What If’ Episode

We’ve gotten quite a bit of tease regarding Marvel Studios’ next Disney+ series, What If. It’ll be the franchise’s first foray into animation, as it explores beyond the Sacred Timeline and looks at the classic stories from Marvel Cinematic Universe from a new perspective. We heard rumblings of an Erik Killmonger-focused episode that may put the once villain n a more positive light. Now, it seems Illuminerdi continues their streak by also revealing more on a Doctor Strange-centric episode. The first trailers already teased a darker path for the Sorcerer Supreme and they have revealed that his motivations are due to the death of his true love.

Now, he is obsessed with changing the past. There is a good chance that tragic death may involve Christine Palmer, who was his anchor in the original Scott Derrickson film. It also confirms he’ll once again get his hands on the Time Stone through the Eye of Aggomotto, but it’s uncertain if this may also tease the return of Kaecillius, who introduces the once good Doctor to this darker future. We are seeing the return of some classic Marvel Studios villains which could indicate that Mads Mikkelsen may return to tackle the role once again.

The teaser trailer also revealed that another incarnation of the Doctor may find his way into the multiverse. It is uncertain if it may connect to his upcoming sequel or how he ends up trapped in the madness that may get unleashed through Loki. Still, it’ll be interesting to see how the tragedy continues to transform the arrogant yet down-to-earth man into the warped version we see in the upcoming Disney+ series.

Source: Illuminerdi

June 21, 2021