Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has taken over theater screens around the world, and it seems like people cannot get enough of the Multiversal sequel. The Sam Raimi-directed MCU epic kicks off Marvel Studios' theatrical slate for 2022, offering up an adventure that takes Stephen Strange, Manda Maximoff, and America Chavez through the Multiverse.
Warning - The rest of this article contains spoilers from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Leading into the release of Multiverse of Madness, talk of the film's many cameos has been the topic of conversation for many. The cameos resulted in mostly being the lineup of the mysterious Illuminati.
This super-powered alternate reality group of heroes was headlined by big names like Reed Richards, Captain Carter, and Baron Karl Mordo. But it seems the biggest of them all was Professor Charles Xavier, played by Patrick Stewart.
Reprising his Fox X-Men universe role, Stewart was one of the few Illuminati members that were revealed in trailers for the film, and his appearance came with a myriad of Easter Eggs. And some eagle-eyed fans have noticed yet another.
A Days of Future Past Tie-In
A line of dialogue from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness matches up almost identically to that of a scene from 20th Century Fox's X-Men: Days of Future Past.
During the invasion of the Illuminati headquarters by Wanda, Charles Xavier says "Just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn't mean they're lost forever" to Mordo, while trying to convince him that Earth-616 Strange might actually be good:
Charles Xavier: "Save the girl and get to the Book of Vishanti."
Stephen Strange: "You have the book here?"
Charles Xavier: "Yes, you built a waypoint."
Baron Mordo: "Charles, we cannot trust him."
Charles Xavier: "I believe we can. Just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesnt mean they're lost forever. We will see what kind of Doctor Strange you are."
Stephen Strange: "Thank you."
This "lost forever" quote exactly mimics a line that is said twice in Days of Future Past. First, Stewart says it to his younger self (played by James McAvoy) when talking about Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto during a Cerebro "time-travel" moment:
[Charles reads Logan’s mind, and appears in the future]
Professor X : Charles.
Charles Xavier : Charles.
Charles Xavier : Is this what becomes of us? Erik was right. Humanity does this to us.
Professor X : Not if we show them a better path.
Charles Xavier : You still believe?
Professor X : Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever. Sometimes, we all need a little help.
Charles Xavier : I’m not the man I was. I open my mind up and it almost overwhelms me.
This "lost forever" line is reiterated again in Days of Future Past by McAvoy's Xavier when trying to save Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique from a turn to evil.
Easter Egg Hunting in Multiverse of Madness
Let the Easter Egg hunt begin.
Surely this is just the first of many hidden details to be found in this Multiversal sequel. There are some obvious ones like the use of the X-Men: The Animated Series theme when Professor X first appears on-screen, but it's these more hidden nuggets that are some of the more exciting.
Surely, this is just a simple nod to the grand history of the character on the big screen. But it could mean something more. There is no telling that this alternate reality is not the one in which Days of Future Past had taken place.
While that is likely not the case, there is still no concrete evidence that this is not the same Charles Xavier that moviegoers have come to know and love over the past two decades.
But, to take off the tinfoil hat for just a second, this is probably the filmmakers putting something in there for the fans.
This Easter Egg and so many more can be seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is in theaters worldwide now.
