Who exactly is the most powerful superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been ever-shifting. At first, it was declared by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige that it was Captain Marvel, but after Avengers: Endgame and the final battle against Thanos, it appeared that Wanda Maximoff became the top dog.
Now, since it appears that the Scarlet Witch has been breaking bad using the Darkhold, Doctor Strange will have to contend with the most powerful character in this franchise. Since Doctor Strange has become the new anchor of the MCU moving forward, especially due to the multiverse falling apart in Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and now Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
In an interview, one producer for the Doctor Strange sequel talked about the sorcerer's chances against Wanda, hinting that there will be an answer by the end of the movie.
Doctor Strange Will Have Uphill Fight Against Wanda
During an interview with Empire, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness producer Richie Palmer was asked who was more powerful—Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff or Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. Palmer stated in blunt honesty that Wanda would come out on top, saying, "I don't know who's more powerful than Wanda."
Recalling her display of power at the end of Avengers: Endgame with Thanos, Palmer said that Doctor Strange "meeting the Wanda Maximoff at the end of Endgame would have been a lot" for the wizard and that fans might "find out" by the end:
“Meeting the Wanda Maximoff at the end of Endgame would have been a lot for Strange. Who comes out on top as the most powerful being in the universe? Maybe we find out at the end of the movie.”
It's only gotten worse since Wanda gained possession of the Darkhold at the end of WandaVision. Palmer stated that "madness has many different definitions," drawing comparison to Wanda's new knowledge of herself as the Scarlet Witch to Strange being forced "to watch the love of his life marry someone else:"
“It’s maddening for Doctor Strange to have to watch the love of his life marry someone else. And it’s maddening for Wanda to have been told, 'There’s a book, and there’s a chapter about you in that book you should read, and secrets you don’t know about yourself.'"
Additionally, Olsen spoke about her excitement "to do dialogue" with Cumberbatch since Multiverse of Madness will be the first time that the two of them will share the screen in this colossal franchise:
“I really was excited to do dialogue with him. I really enjoyed our constant conversation, of analysis and trying to understand where both characters are coming from.”
Final Battle Between Scarlet Witch & Sorcerer Supreme
It's understandable to think that Doctor Strange wouldn't stand much of a chance against Wanda if the two were to go head-to-head, especially after her display at the end of Avengers: Endgame when she was about to snap Thanos in half like a twig with her power.
Fans have also seen how Doctor Strange could be easily handled by simple telekinesis, like in Avengers: Infinity War when he was rendered unconscious by Ebony Maw with ease. Wanda could easily do this herself, if not outright kill him immediately with a flick of her wrist.
So, the Sorcerer Supreme does indeed have an uphill battle against the Scarlet Witch, who, according to the Darkhold, is by all accounts more powerful than him. The odds are certainly stacked against our mystic hero, especially since Wanda has no doubt become more powerful since the end of Endgame and WandaVision after learning more about her powers through the Darkhold.
Fans will see how Stephen deals with Wanda when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is released in theaters on May 6, 2022.
