Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is just around the corner, meaning that fans will soon witness the returns of Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen as Stephen Strange and Wanda Maximoff, respectively. Following the events of WandaVision, Loki, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Strange is tasked with exploring the Multiverse along with Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong's Wong, and Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez.
Leading up to the release of the film, new featurettes and short TV spots are being revealed on a near-daily basis. In most of these cases, the released footage is only raising more questions, rather than providing answers. However, in one instance, Patrick Stewart's Professor X, who was all but confirmed in the main trailer, was given an expanded look.
This was thanks to the ScreenX format that some theaters offer, which expands the camera shot and allows the viewer to see farther on each side. The quick glimpse of just the side of Stewart's head in a Multiverse of Madness TV spot was expanded in this format to show the entire back of his head, as well as the top of his wheelchair.
Charles Xavier isn't the only part of the movie's ScreenX footage that has garnered some attention, as other shots seen in the format are maybe a little more revealing than Marvel Studios intended.
Wanda Attacks Kamar-Taj
Twitter user @itsjustanx recently posted a clip from the main trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in the ScreenX format. This is an optional viewing experience that select theaters offer to moviegoers so that they can see beyond the core shot that would be featured on the 2D screens. Thanks to two additional screens on the left and right sides of ScreenX theaters, audience members become immersed in a much wider version of the movie and, in theory, have the ability to see more of the movie beyond the main center view.
In the main trailer for Multiverse of Madness, an attack is shown to be taking place at Kamar-Taj - the place in the Himalayas where Strange met the Ancient One in 2016's Doctor Strange. It is where he began his training to learn the Mystic Arts as well as where his hands were healed.
In the standard version of the film's trailer, not much is revealed except for a few brief explosions. However, the expanded ScreenX ratio shows that the core shot has different lighting than the sides. They appear to have a red hue, similar in color to Wanda's Chaos Magic, heavily suggesting that Wanda is involved with this scene.
For comparison, here is a shot of Wanda using Chaos Magic in the film. When looking at the two shots side-by-side, the colors look nearly identical:
Many fans now believe that the main trailer's Kamar-Taj destruction shots had been edited to change their color grading from Wanda's red to limited yellow lighting in an attempt to prevent fans from knowing that the assailant is Wanda herself. This theory has further backing thanks to this recent ScreenX trailer, which apparently didn't take the time to change the color tones of the scene, effectively spoiling that Scarlet Witch will be involved in the attack on the Mystic headquarters.
The change is definitely not a coincidence, as it can clearly be seen that there has been some heavy editing to the color. With the Multiverse allowing the possibility for Wanda to get her family back, it would be no surprise if her powers were on full display while she destroyed Kamar-Taj as a villainous figure.
The full trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been posted to YouTube in the ScreenX format by CINEMASUNSHINEch:
The Twitter post that contains just the clips from the Kamar-Taj attack can be seen below:
This is Chaos Magic, Wanda
Wanda's heel-turn has been building since Infinity War in 2018. Witnessing Vision's death right in front of her eyes not once, but twice, really took a toll on her. In WandaVision, things only got worse as she had to say goodbye to Vision again, but this time, she had to leave her two children behind as well.
Marvel Studios hasn't really tried to keep her intentions a secret, as there have been multiple instances in released footage where she can be seen covered in blood and looking like nothing will stand in her way. However, taking down Kamar-Taj is a task that would be deemed almost impossible by most, but with someone as powerful as the Scarlet Witch, those in the line of fire better find cover quickly.
It is not a surprise that the attack actually came from Wanda, but it is surprising that the ScreenX trailer showed it so blatantly, especially since it was clear that the shots had clearly been edited. The number of casualties that will take place during the attack is unknown as of right now, but with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness coming in less than two weeks, fans won't have to wait much longer to find out.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in theaters on May 6.
