Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • The Ultimate List of What To Watch Before ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    The Ultimate List of What To Watch Before ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    So, you are excited for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The sure-to-be memorable film is coming up quickly, and anyone who wants to prepare for it should probably start thinking about it soon. While most sequels only rely on the first film in terms of backstory, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 28th movie is a bit more complicated than that. This article is a comprehensive list of every movie or series you should — or might — want to watch in preparation for Multiverse of Madness. Because of the nature of this movie, the list has a four-tiered system. First, there are projects that are essential to watch before the Doctor Strange sequel. Second, there are projects that we would strongly encourage you to watch but likely are not strictly necessary. Third, there are extra stories that will no doubt heighten your Multiverse of Madness experience but may ultimately have very little impact on the film. Fourth, we list some of the Marvel properties relevant to the most rampant unconfirmed cameo/character appearance rumors. 

    Essential

    The six projects — listed in order of importance — you should absolutely watch or rewatch before Multiverse of Madness are Doctor Strange, WandaVision, Spider-Man: No Way Home, the final episode of Loki, What If… ? Episode 4, and Avengers: Infinity War. 

    1. Doctor Strange

    It should need little to no explanation why Doctor Strange is essential viewing for its sequel.

    Doctor Strange

    2. WandaVision

    WandaVision marked the first time Wanda Maximoff truly got the spotlight. Not only did it expand upon and reveal the origins of her powers, but it also spent its 9-episode run on Disney+ giving her one of the most in-depth character development arcs of the MCU. Of course, WandaVision also debuted Wanda’s Scarlet Witch persona, and the end of the series revealed her connections to the Darkhold. Considering all of that plus the fact that Doctor Strange himself was originally meant to make a cameo, it is safe to say the events of WandaVision lead directly to Multiverse of Madness.

    WandaVision

    3. Spider-Man: No Way Home

    No Way Home has the most recent appearance of Doctor Strange in the MCU, and it also showcased the first major live-action multiverse storyline. The disruption of the multiverse was caused by the spell that Doctor Strange cast, so it is more than likely his activities in No Way Home will at least be a starting point in Multiverse of Madness.

    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    4. Loki Episode 6

    The finale of the Disney+ series Loki was notable and memorable in a lot of ways. Important here, of course, is the fact that the multiverse was essentially created in this episode. It almost serves as an origin story for the MCU’s multiverse, and it has the best explanation of it yet, though Multiverse of Madness will surely dive deeper into multiversal lore.

    ‘Loki’ Episode 6

    5. What If… ? Episode 4

    If you are wondering why a What If… ? episode is so high on this list–you haven’t seen this episode. The fourth episode of the anthology series features a variant of Doctor Strange (Doctor Strange Supreme) who takes a darker path than our main Doctor Strange. This episode will feature so many similar themes to Multiverse of Madness, and Doctor Strange Supreme might even make an appearance. The film creators have even cited Episode 4 as inspiration for the live-action story. And, quite frankly, this is hands-down the best Doctor Strange story the MCU has given us. 

    ‘What If… ?’ Episode 4

    6. Avengers: Infinity War

    Infinity War really toes the line between “essential” and “encouraged,” but overall there’s enough important content to call it essential. Doctor Strange is a major part of the plot due to his connection with the Time Stone. His character seemed to develop significantly between Doctor Strange and this movie. It also features his most intricate and visually-stunning fight scenes, showcasing how strong his sorcery can be. Infinity War also contributes to Wanda’s character development, serving as the bedrock for her grief in WandaVision. It also hints at how powerful she is, as she has the power to destroy the Mind Stone.

    Avengers: Infinity War

    Encouraged

    If you are familiar with Doctor Strange’s and the Scarlet Witch’s major appearances and story arcs, you should be prepared enough to watch Multiverse of Madness without a problem. Still, there are several more major MCU outings that could enhance your understanding of the film’s main characters, major MCU events, and even just multiversal themes and mechanics. So, these five viewings are highly encouraged but likely not necessary.

    Avengers: Endgame
    Avengers: Age of Ultron
    Captain America: Civil War
    What If… ? Episode 8
    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    1. Avengers: Endgame

    Neither Doctor Strange nor Wanda Maximoff have much screentime or development in Endgame, because they were both snapped out of existence at the end of Infinity War. Still, it just seems odd not to recommend Endgame for any Phase Four MCU project–the events are just too significant. Plus, the Avengers’ time travel hints at the concept of alternate universes, and Steve Rogers’ ending certainly suggests that, even without the events of Loki, at least one other universe could have been created.

    2. Avengers: Age of Ultron

    Age of Ultron comes before Doctor Strange’s appearance in the MCU, but it is the first appearance of Wanda Maximoff, which is obviously significant. The Multiverse of Madness trailer also featured what looks like Ultron Sentinels, so that connection may be of some value as well.

    3. Captain America: Civil War

    The Scarlet Witch’s level of power will no doubt play a major role in the events of Multiverse of Madness. Civil War was really the first time her ability to control them was called into question, though WandaVision did later expand on that idea. The film also is part of Wanda’s on-screen character development in the MCU and hints even more at her growing relationship with Vision.

    4. What If… ? Episodes 8 and 9

    If Multiverse of Madness does anything, it will take our characters on quite the trip through the multiverse. The final two episodes of Disney+’s What If… ? heavily feature that concept. The visuals from the Watcher’s universe-shattering fight with Infinity Ultron might be the standard to look out for in live-action. Plus, these episodes brought the Guardians of the Multiverse, which in a sense was a glorified grouping of variant cameos. Audiences should certainly be prepared for some glorified cameos from MCU variants in Multiverse of Madness.

    5. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Shang-Chi is another tricky one. While it is not particularly highlighted, the film definitely suggests that Ta Lo is an alternate universe, so the mechanics of traveling to and from it certainly implicate interesting multiverse questions. The film is also the most recent appearance of Wong (other than his three-second cameo in No Way Home). The post-credits scene with the Ten Rings beacon likely is not connected to Multiverse of Madness, but you never know. 

    Extra

    At this point, if you have watched everything above, you almost certainly know everything that Multiverse of Madness wants or expects you to know going in. If you want to keep going, here are some extra suggestions that will likely add to your experience, but are not overly important.

    What If… ? Episode 5
    Thor: Ragnarok
    What If… ? Episode 1
    X-Men (2000)

    1. The Original X-Men Trilogy

    Since Patrick Stewart is actually confirmed to be Charles Xavier in Multiverse of Madness, it does mean that viewers will get something out of being familiar with the character’s past in the general Marvel film universe. How much is hard to say–he could be a four-second cameo for all we know, and the variant might be nothing like the Professor X from the X-Men movies. Considering the wealth of cameo possibilities as well, maybe familiarity with other characters in the franchise will come in handy.

    2. Thor: Ragnarok

    Ragnarok features the final (in terms of this list) live-action Doctor Strange appearance in the MCU. So, if you are looking to check off all of those boxes, you should give this one a watch. His role is very minor and is more of a fun cameo, but still.

    3. What If… ? Episode 5

    Yes, there is yet another What If… ? suggestion. The Multiverse of Madness trailer features what looks like a zombie Doctor Strange, so this might be a fun one to be able to reference. It is also a pretty enjoyable episode, so there are not many drawbacks to adding this to your list.

    4. The Rest of What If… ?

    Multiverse of Madness is going to explore the multiverse. The only other MCU property to truly do that is What If… ?. It almost certainly will serve as a primer of some sort for the Doctor Strange sequel, but no particular plotline (other than Episode 4, as noted above) will likely have much influence on the events of the film. Captain Carter from Episode 1 is, however, very heavily and convincingly rumored to make an appearance in Multiverse of Madness. If you enjoyed the specific episodes higher up on this list, you might as well give the rest of the short series a shot.

    Easter Egg Hunting

    There is a certain point with Multiverse of Madness where the watchlist recommendations get overly complicated. Of course, the movie is rumored to have an inordinately large amount of cameos from across literally all of Marvel’s properties. If you want to be prepared for any possible cameo, you practically have to watch every Marvel (MCU and non-MCU) movie and series to date. Still, here’s a quick list of some films to watch based on some of the bigger and more popular (and unconfirmed) rumors that would not necessarily already be included in the films or series listed above:

    1. Captain Marvel
    2. Fantastic Four (2004)
    3. Deadpool
    4. X-Men Prequel Films
    5. Inhumans
    6. Daredevil (2015 series and/or 2003 movie)
    7. Ghost Rider
    Captain Marvel
    Fantastic Four (2005)
    Deadpool
    X-Me: First Class
    Inhumans
    Dardevil (2015)
    Ghost Rider
    Daredevil (2003)

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, 2022.

  • Sam Raimi Confirms America Chavez’s Origin in ‘Multiverse of Madness’

    Sam Raimi Confirms America Chavez’s Origin in ‘Multiverse of Madness’

    One of Marvel Studios’ biggest films is just around the corner. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be breaking MCU barriers by heading into the the greater Marvel multiverse with both new an established characters. The Doctor Strange sequel will feature main characters Doctor Strange and Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch facing off against multiversal threats–including variants of themselves. But newcomer Xochitl Gomez portrays America Chavez, a new character who also has connections to the multiverse.

    In an interview with Fandango, director Sam Raimi described Chavez’s “spirit of youth” and teases her tense relationship with Doctor Strange. But Raimi also confirmed that Chavez is from an alternate universe:

    Well, she adds an exciting spirit of youth. She’s a newcomer to her powers and to our world. She actually comes from another universe. I think she brings a sense of lightness and youth. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange can be a very egotistical and stuffy character, a know-it-all. She just flies in the face of that. She doesn’t really have respect for him originally. She sees right through the fronts that he puts up. She’s much more down to earth and one of us, and she doesn’t take his attitude. I don’t think he likes that at first. So, she creates a contrast.

    Sam Raimi

    This is not too surprising, given that in the comics America Chavez’s traditional origin story is that she used her dimension-hopping powers to travel from a universe known as the Utopian Parallel after her mothers gave their lives to save that universe. So, Raimi’s confirmation suggests that the character might be at least somewhat comic-accurate. In any event, we should expect to see her as one of the first live-action leading characters from outside of the main MCU we are familiar with.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will hit theaters on May 6, 2022.

    Source: Fandango

  • Sam Raimi Addresses the Possibility of Working on More Spidey With Tobey Maguire

    Sam Raimi Addresses the Possibility of Working on More Spidey With Tobey Maguire

    Spider-Man: No Way Home saw Tobey Maguire suit up as Spidey after a 15-year hiatus from the role. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was helmed by director Sam Raimi, who returned to the comic book genre 15 years after his Spidey trilogy wrapped up in theaters. With both players back in the game, fans have clamoring for a reunion between the two in another Spider-Man film. According to Raimi, that possibility is NOT out of the question.

    I’ve come to realize after making Doctor Strange that anything is possible, really anything in the Marvel universe, any team-ups. I love Tobey. I love Kirsten Dunst. I think all things are possible. I don’t really have a story or a plan. I don’t know if Marvel would be interested in that right now. I don’t know what their thoughts are about that. I haven’t really pursued that. But it sounds beautiful. Even if it wasn’t a Spider-Man movie, I’d love to work with Tobey again, in a different role.

    Samuel M. Raimi

    The prospect of the two reuniting for a fourth Spidey film is tantalizing, especially given the sour taste left in the mouths of Raimi and the fans after 2007’s Spider-Man 3. Despite the critical response to Morbius being less than pleasant, Sony seems committed to continuing to develop films with their Spider-Man characters. Perhaps a Raimi/Maguire reunion would help bring a little positivity back to their corner.

    Source: Fandango

  • ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Sam Raimi Would Love to Work in the MCU Again

    ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Sam Raimi Would Love to Work in the MCU Again

    There have always been quite a few debates on Marvel Studios’ relationship with its directors. Some believed that they’ve hampered their creative visions, as there are examples like Thor: The Dark World or Edgar Wright’s original Ant-Man pitch, where there were definitely conflicting behind-the-scenes. So, some were concerned that Sam Raimi joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s toy box would hamper his creative vision, yet it seems the director would love to return to work with Marvel Studios.

    Absolutely. It’s like the world’s best toy box to be able to play at Marvel. I’d love to come back and tell another tale, especially with the great management they’ve got there.

    Sam Raimi

    It’s certainly motivating to hear that he’s leaving this project with a positive experience with the production company. The highlight of the management is also a good sign that they were supportive throughout the production. We learned that the producers even pitch in ideas during the creative process, such as CEO Kevin Feige pitched the idea of including Kingpin in Hawkeye.

    Raimi is a creative director and it would be great if he gets a chance to explore more horror elements moving forward. We have a Halloween special on the horizon. So, he might have some fun adapting a storyline based on the Midnight Sons or even further expanding their new mystical and supernatural corner of this franchise. We’re seeing more and more directors taking a stab at leaving their imprint on the MCU. So, it would be great to see more of Raimi dabble in this universe.

    Source: Fandango

  • Sam Raimi Teases Multiple Wanda’s in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Sam Raimi Teases Multiple Wanda’s in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    When the first trailer dropped for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we got a tease of multiple Variants of our favorite soon-to-be Sorcerer Supreme. Yet, we’ve only gotten teases that other popular characters may also get some other Variants at some point in the future. Well, director Sam Raimi has confirmed that we will also meet quite a few different versions of Elisabeth Olsen‘s Wanda Maximoff in the upcoming film.

    Yes. The movie is a journey into the multiverse, so you do see different iterations of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, and even Lizzie Olsen’s character of Wanda Maximoff. So, the actors have to play that. It’s a great challenge for them and great fun to direct them playing these altered versions of themselves.

    Sam Raimi

    Not only does it sound like he enjoyed the time giving these talented actors opportunities to tackle their characters in unique ways, but it also opens up the question of which version we see in the trailers. We do see one that is seemingly living a normal life in the same house from WandaVision.

    Yet, it also switches between her and the darker take of the character we’ve been getting teased throughout the trailers. Who knows how many Variants we’ll see scattered throughout the film and how they might challenge Strange, who might lose focus as he no longer knows who he can trust. Perhaps there’s more to this story than meets the eyes.

    Source: Fandango

  • ‘WandaVision’s Billy and Tommy Return in New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Promo

    ‘WandaVision’s Billy and Tommy Return in New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Promo

    Here’s an interesting detail, a brand new promo image has dropped for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which includes some new footage for the upcoming film. While it mostly shows some familiar scenes while expanding on elements, the biggest reveal is the return of Julian Hilliard‘s Billy and Jett Klyne‘s Tommy. It seems like Wanda is having a vision of meeting her children once again only for them to vanish. The house even looks like the modern version of the one she and Vision had in WandaVision.

    It’s surprising they would include their reveal directly in a promo, as there were enough hints at their addition. Plus, the whole post-credit sequence in WandaVision was a set-up for their return. Though, it also opens up the question of how their arrival in the hex may connect to the multiverse. It almost seems like they’ve always been part of the multiverse and just happened to choose Wanda’s cry for a family.

    Whatever it may be, the set-up of this trailer with Strange and Wanda’s voiceovers overlapping perfectly. It creates this eerie feeling and once again highlights the “nightmare” aspect of this Multiverse of Madness. The third eye on evil Doctor Strange is also an interesting addition. It’s still theorized it’s the same character we met in What If…? but there’s no clear indication. For now, we can only theorize as tickets are about to go on sale for the May release.

    Source: Twitter

  • James Gunn Teases Big Cameos for ‘Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3’

    James Gunn Teases Big Cameos for ‘Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3’

    It would not be a James Gunn film if we didn’t get a ton of fun updates from the set on how production is going. Recently with Guardians of The Galaxy: Vol 3, the director has been consistently updating us with pics from his cart, featuring mysteriously appearing figures from Rick and Morty, which he claims are gifts from an unknown crew member. Today’s update came with a bit of eyebrow-raiser for fans, with Gunn teasing some big cameos to come in the film.

    In today’s update, Gunn teased that they would be filming some wonderful cameos for the “true Guardians fans.” Now, what could that mean? We might never find out until the film releases, as it’s James Gunn and you’re better off just waiting for the movie instead of trying to decipher his cryptic message. It could hint at a return of the Ravagers, more specifically Starhawk, Aleta Ogord, Mainframe, Krugarr, Martinex, and Charlie-27. These characters were briefly seen in Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2 and again in the post-credits scene where they team up in memory of their fallen teammate, Yondu. It seems like these characters are definitely poised to return, especially in what is supposed to be the big finale for the guardians.

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1511372738111455238?t=EIA2p8tgyld9LntonEpTyg&s=19

    The Guardians of The Galaxy are set to make their return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2022, with an appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder followed up by the Guardians of The Galaxy Holiday Special which looks to be hitting screens this holiday season. Following that the long-awaited Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be hitting screens in 2023, serving as the current team and James Gunn’s send-off for the franchise.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Black Widow’s O-T Fagbenle Teases an MCU Return

    ‘Black Widow’s O-T Fagbenle Teases an MCU Return

    Black Widow was the first time that the MCU really explored a prequel on what Natasha Romanoff was up to before the events of Avengers: Infinity War. While it technically set up quite a few important characters for future returns, such as Florence Pug‘s Yelena Belova, there were some minor characters we haven’t heard much from since. One of them is O-T Fagbenle‘s Rick Mason, who many believed was going to turn out to be Taskmaster. Yet, the film caught us off-guard and decided to go in a different direction. Luckily, it seems that Mason might return.

    In an interview with SlashFilm, the actor has revealed that when he was initially cast in the role, it wasn’t as part of a one-time conversation. As an informant, there are many locations where he could end up making his return with Armor Wars being one strong possibility. Who knows if they might have bigger plans for his character as well, especially with Romanoff’s death pushing him into a new direction.

    I mean, you know what, with Marvel, I’m never sure how much they can say about stuff, but I’ll just say that it wasn’t a one-and-done conversation.

    O-T Fagbenle

    It would be interesting to see if they might revisit his original development in some way, as they definitely still planted some seeds. Mason had a habit of constantly sleeping and was quite the informant. His character’s suddenly getting his hands on the Taskmaster technology would make for an interesting development, as we see harsh times potentially also push people to embrace their darker sides. So, the Snap could become a catalyst for exactly that.

    Source: SlashFilm

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Takes a World Record Spot from ‘The Grinch’

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Takes a World Record Spot from ‘The Grinch’

    We’ve been keeping a close eye on what the future has in store for the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as director James Gunn has been busy working on the project. While he has continued to tease the appearance of various Rick and Morty characters, we still know very little about the project. Yet, he surprised many when he took to Twitter to announce that the 2023 release has broken a World Record that was previously held by How the Grinch Stole Christmas. They took the top spot for the World Record of the Most Makeup Appliances Created for a Single Production.

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1511091202547924996

    There have been quite a lot of discussions on the internet on Marvel Studios’ general use of CG. While they still rely on a mixture of practical elements and CG but also were forced to adapt given the circumstances created through COVID. They’ve also started giving their directors more creative control ever since Kevin Feige and his team moved away from Marvel to work more closely with Disney.

    In a follow-up tweet, Gunn confirms that he has 100% control over how many practical effects are used. So, his involvement also likely played a big role in reaching this world record. It’ll be fun to see if they promote it, or simply stick with his tweet on the matter, as many might not have realized The Grinch was holding on to that record since 2000. It was quite the make-up effects marvel of its time and no wonder it wasn’t an easy one to surpass.

    Source: Twitter

  • Karen Gillan Promises More Improvisation in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    Karen Gillan Promises More Improvisation in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    Karen Gillan has been busy promoting her newest film, The Bubble, where she teamed up with Judd Apatow to offer a meta film about film-making. It seems her work on that project has inspired her to push a bit more to try and improvise her work. In an interview with The Wrap, she’s talked about her approach to acting and made a promise that Nebula is improvising “a lot more lines” in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

    This time around in ‘Guardians 3’, she’s, yeah, she’s improvising a lot more lines.

    Karen Gillan

    Of course, she doesn’t give away what she may have improvised throughout the production but did highlight that a big part of the opening for Avengers: Endgame was her doing just that alongside Robert Downey Jr, as Nebula and Stark bonded while adrift in space.

    I will say, I’ve improvised a fair bit of Nebula because I don’t know if you saw ‘Endgame,’ which seems like. That’s a ridiculous question. But basically, all of the stuff with Robert Downey Jr. at the beginning was like, that whole montage was improvised.

    Karen Gillan

    Some of the most memorable lines in cinematic history have been improvised. So, it’s great to also see James Gunn giving his team the freedom to add their own touches to further develop the characters they’ve played for so long. Nebula’s interactions with Stark were quite memorable, especially in how they added quite a bit more to her personality after just losing her sister, who she finally built up a connection with.

    Source: The Wrap