Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will showcase the second solo adventure for Benedict Cumberbatch's Master of the Mystic Arts, but the title suggests that this next chapter is an unusual adventure for the Marvel hero. Directed by Sam Raimi, the upcoming MCU sequel will also feature Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong's Wong, and newcomer Xochitl Gomez as Ms. America.
Cumberbatch first made his debut in 2016's Doctor Strange, with the film serving as his origin story. After outsmarting Dormammu, the Marvel actor returned several times in Phase 3 to assist Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
As the title suggests, Multiverse of Madness is set to present all kinds of trouble for Stephen Strange, thus allowing the character to develop in a solo setting. However, fans have theorized that Wanda Maximoff's inclusion and the rumored appearances of characters from across the Multiverse could take away the spotlight from the titular sorcerer.
Now, Cumberbatch has addressed the concern in a new interview.
Benedict Cumberbatch Opens Up about Doctor Strange 2
Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch sat down as a guest on WTF with Marc Maron podcast to share details about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
When asked if the MCU sequel is his movie, Cumberbatch admitted that there's "great stuff" for him to do in the movie while also teasing that "there's a lot of stuff" going on in the narrative.
The full exchange can be seen below:
Maron: "So, is this your movie?"
Cumberbatch: "Yeah, well... yeah, that's part of the problem. There's a lot of stuff going on in it. It's like, 'Do I have a character arc in this? Is it working?' Uh, no, there's great stuff for me to do, it's very busy, it's called the Multiverse of Madness, and it's bonkers."
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will showcase the second solo adventure for Benedict Cumberbatch's Master of the Mystic Arts, but the title suggests that this next chapter is an unusual adventure for the Marvel hero. Directed by Sam Raimi, the upcoming MCU sequel will also feature Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong's Wong, and newcomer Xochitl Gomez as Ms. America.
The MCU's Multiversal Mess
Benedict Cumberbatch's latest comments suggest that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be a busy movie. In a way, this makes sense, considering that the main focus is the Multiverse after all.
Despite the expected jam-packed narrative, the Marvel actor's claim that "there's great stuff" for him to do in the film should reassure fans that Multiverse of Madness will still be Strange's story.
After Loki's game-changing finale that involves the Multiverse, Spider-Man: No Way Home will serve as the first big screen project that will tackle the problem involving alternate realities, and it's only fitting that Strange is involved in the web-slinging sequel.
The collective experience of Strange's adventures with the Avengers should serve as his guide in solving this newfound problem. Multiverse of Madness also presents an opportunity to tackle Strange's decisions in past movies, allowing viewers to unpack what's really going on in the mind of the future Sorcerer Supreme.
Many would agree that there's a sense of hope whenever Strange is around, especially considering the idea that he's the "go-to" person when it comes to dealing with mystical threats. The upcoming sequel is poised to challenge Strange like never before, meaning that it is primed to flesh out the character in more ways than one.
At this stage, the sequel is reportedly undergoing reshoots, with Cumberbatch describing them as '"really exciting" and that "the film's shaping up to be something special."
In addition, the Marvel star also mentioned that some of the scenes are "just impossible to do on the day," thus cementing his comment that there's a lot going on in its narrative. From potential cameos to thrilling action sequences, the possibilities are endless.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to premiere in theaters on May 6, 2022.
