Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is here, and it has fans from across the world questioning the futures of more than a few characters in the MCU. This Multiversal epic showcases a jaunt across multiple realities, as Doctor Stephen Strange accompanies newcomer America Chavez in stopping a potential threat to all reality. The Sam Raimi-directed film has opened to mostly positive reviews and has done superbly at the box office during its opening weekend.
WARNING: The rest of this article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
One of the biggest talking points coming out of Multiverse of Madness has been the various cameos and returning characters found within the film's 126-minute runtime. Audiences saw heroes like Captain Carter, Professor X, and Reed Richards appear in the reality-bending adventure, but one of the most welcome returns was Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer.
Palmer served as a cohort and love interest to Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange in the first film, and her role is expanded even further in the sequel. McAdam's character is seen not just in the MCU-prime 616 Universe, but also as a variant of the character working in the Illuminati headquarters.
Now, so much is unclear as to where the Doctor Strange story will go after Multiverse of Madness, with some characters more primed to make a return than others, but Christine remains a massive question mark as to if she will be showing up again any time soon. The actress that brought the character to life has spoken on the prospect of carrying on in the MCU, and it sounds like she is ready for more.
More McAdams in the MCU
In an interview with Variety, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Rachel McAdams spoke about if she would be up for/ if she thinks she will continue on in the MCU.
When asked, the actress responded by saying she "wouldn’t be sad to keep going," making mention that with the opening of the Multiverse "anything could happen:"
"I mean, it’s a great gig. So I wouldn’t be sad to keep going with it. It’s a fun part. And I liked that she’s gone in different directions now. And now that the multiverse is open, you know, anything could happen. The world’s your oyster."
As well, McAdams took a look at what she enjoyed about diving back into Christine Palmer for Multiverse of Madness. She said she loved coming back to the "complicated" relationship between her and Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange:
"Yes, yes. It’s in keeping with their relationship from the first one, which is just complicated. And I think they’ll just love each other forever into every universe, but it’s never easy with them."
The MCU star said that stepping into the Multiverse was particularly special, as she got to "[be] physical" and play a different version of Christine. She noted that it was fun getting to wear a "cool [new] outfit" and "be really just decked out" with new hair and lipstick:
"I love action. I love being physical. As an actor, I always feel like it gets me out of my head, and fun surprises come out of getting to just move. It was great to get to do that in this one a little bit more. And to wear a cool outfit. I was in scrubs last time — which were super comfortable; I’m not complaining at all. And I did miss them, but it was fun to be really just decked out. I got new hair and I get to wear really hot pink lipstick. All those things that I love, as an actress, to get to do in my job."
A Multiverse of Possibilities
Just reading these quotes, it feels like Rachel McAdams not only loves being in the MCU but really appreciates where the story is going in this mega-franchise. She outright expresses her joy in being able to bring Christine Palmer to life and says that she would love to keep doing it if Marvel Studios were to give her the opportunity.
Now while a Christine-centric movie is likely off the table, it certainly feels like there is more potential for the character as the MCU moves into the future. It has been shown off a bit in both Doctor Strange movies, but as Strange moves further and further away from reality as fans know it (i.e. by mastering the mystic arts and now traversing the Multiverse), Christine serves even more as the grounding mechanism.
She is the one thing that, no matter how bizarre and out there these Strange stories can/will get, will bring the good Doctor back down to Earth and remind him that he is still human. And it is not as though the Christine fans have seen on Earth-616 is dead or anything. Sure, she is married, but that is not to say she will no longer be a part of Stephen's life.
At this point, Rachel McAdams would love to be back, and on the Marvel Studios side, it feels like there can't really be a Doctor Strange story told without having her back in some capacity.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now in theaters worldwide.
