The long-term projections are finally here, as enough buzz has been starting to gather around the upcoming release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While things aren’t still at their usual pace with the pandemic still an issue in the back of people’s minds, we still saw some films manage to break the model such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Batman. Even Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is going to make a strong splash at the box office building on the success of the first entry. Now, it seems that Doctor Strange might be the biggest drop of the year so far.
Benedict Cumberbatch has been a strong box office draw for some time, and the build-up out of the latest Spider-Man film into Doctor Strange‘s sequel will definitely play a factor. Plus. Elizabeth Olsen also has a big role in the trailers and has been quite the draw after the success of WandaVision as well. The concept of the multiverse is also definitely grabbing people’s attention and the film is currently tracking 2019 performances like Star Wars. The Rise of Skywalker and CaptainMarvel. So, the film may potentially open between $165M up to $200M+ in its domestic release.
That would put it at potentially earning $535M domestically, which is no small feat. The 3-hour release of The Batman managed to open with $134M and currently the Doctor Strange sequel’s presales are already outpacing it. So, it may be the confirmation that even after some softer performances in 2021 due to the pandemic, Marvel Studios remains a top contender within the market moving forward.
Axel Foley is coming back to a theater near you, and he’s bringing a brand new director with him. Mark Molloy, known for his work on Apple’s TV spots, will make his feature film debut helming the return of Eddie Murphy as one of his most iconic characters. Beverly Hills Cop 4, as it is currently being called, was previously set to be directed by the duo of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, though they eventually stepped away to focus on the production of Warner Bros.’ Batgirl film. Jerry Bruckheimer will return to the franchise as a producer.
It’s great to see the film attach a newcomer in the industry to tackle the project. The film will premiere on Netflix, but they’re currently is no set production start date. Originally, the franchise was owned by Paramount but the rights went to the streamer back in 2019. The franchise is an important one, as it was the one that put Eddie Murphy on the map back in 1984 before it went on to get two more sequels.
We’re seeing the trend continue of iconic legacy franchises returning with new sequels. Netflix has also become the home for Eddie Murphy‘s grand return as an actor after a break since the critically-panned Norbit. So, it seems like a match made in heaven for this to become the new home of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. It seems likely that the fourth entry is more a swan song than the build-up of a new franchise, which would be fitting as Murphy gives Axel Foley his last hurrah with this new entry.
Ant-Man and the Wasp finally introduced us to Janet Van Dyne, and many were excited when we found out that it was Michelle Pfeiffer whohad taken on the role. The icon was a perfect choice for the aged-up version of the character that got lost in the Quantum Realm long ago. In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, the actress revealed that she was quite hesitant about even joining the production, as she was only given a few details on her character by director Peyton Reed.
They’re very mysterious, and they’re very secretive, of course, with their storylines. It’s a little hard because I met with Peyton, and I knew a little bit about the character, but there was no script. You have to commit without actually having read anything.
Michelle Pfeiffer
She highlights that one challenge is how often the scripts change throughout production. It is commonly done by the creative team as they updated elements and even as a measure to keep as many secrets as possible. Of course, it adds some hesitation to join the project.
It wouldn’t have mattered because it all changes anyway. You don’t really know what you’re getting into, and then you get a script right before you start shooting, and then it changes every day. And then you shoot the movie, and you wrap, and then it changes again.
Michelle Pfeiffer
What needs to be pointed out though is that Pfeiffer also has been rather open on her almost backing out of every single film role she ever had. She confirmed that in an interview back in 2018, and it probably wasn’t much different here but she is luckily confirmed to return for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
It looks like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is on its way to opening with a strong weekend, as it has taken in $6.25M domestically through its previews from Wednesday and Thursday. To put that into comparison, the film has managed to pass Morbius ($5.7M) and Uncharted ($3.7M), which is motivating after the only real major release being The Batman in 2022 so far. It seems most of the income is from Thursday, which is to be expected with around $5M. That still puts it ahead of the first entries’ $3M back in 2020 before the pandemic hit.
So far, the question remains if the family-focused film can carry the weekend to potentially pass Jumanji: The Next Level‘s $59.3M opening weekend. Family films have mostly struggled quite a bit as of late due to the pandemic. So, it’ll be interesting to see if the film continues its draw for a younger audience and pulls in people, but it seems clear that it has a good chance to potentially take the top spot.
Currently, the prediction is that the film will take in around $60M to $75M, but Box Office Pro doesn’t deny that there’s a chance it could perform even better. We have to keep in mind that the film already took in $30M last weekend internationally in only 31 markets. 22are set to join this weekend and its only real competition is Ambulance and Everything Everywhere All At Once, which target a very different audience. So, we’ll see just how it’s weekend will go.
It’s looking good for Marvel Studios once again, as the current 24-hour presales are the best of 2022 so far. As such, they have already beat out Warner Bros.’ big March release of The Batman and are hot on the trail of Spider-Man: No Way Home. We don’t have an exact number, but it looks like the Disney subsidiary has a blockbuster hit on its hands. Fandango’s Erik Davis had the following to say on the film’s presales:
The epic first day of presales for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness proves fans are beyond excited to experience all the thrills, chills and blockbuster surprises Marvel Studios is known to deliver.
Erik Davis – Fandangp
There’s still no word how the numbers are with other exhibitors, but the multiversal-based storyline is definitely on everyone’s must-watch list. Doctor Strange has been a consistent presence throughout the MCU even if his first solo film was released all the way back in 2016. Plus, the trailer was revealed alongside No Way Home, which was quite the box office draw since its release back in December.
Forbes does point to it being a potentially cautionary tale, especially given the uncertainty of the MCU’s holding on the box office. Not every entry in the franchise has truly dominated yet most of the releases also faced some hardships during the pandemic. There are some comparisons made to Eternals performing similarly to Dune, as well as Uncharted picking up the same pace as Black Widow. Yet, the latter definitely took place in very different situations, and the films have still performed quite well, especially those introducing new characters into the franchise. For now, 2022 is still not looking like a true “return to form” for the box office and it’ll definitely be a proving ground moving forward.
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: EndgameAvengers: Age of UltronCaptain America: Civil WarWhat If… ? Episode 8Shang-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.
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:
Captain Marvel
Fantastic Four (2004)
Deadpool
X-Men Prequel Films
Inhumans
Daredevil (2015 series and/or 2003 movie)
Ghost Rider
Captain MarvelFantastic Four (2005)DeadpoolX-Me: First ClassInhumansDardevil (2015)Ghost RiderDaredevil (2003)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, 2022.
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.
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.
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.
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
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