Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is next up on Marvel Studios' theatrical slate, and anticipation is only just starting to build amongst fans. While the MCU has dipped its toes into the Multiverse, the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring adventure will jump off the diving board and into the deep end of Multiversal shenanigans. Info on the supernatural sequel has been scarce thus far, but that doesn't mean nothing is known.
The project is directed by comic book movie veteran Sam Raimi and has been described as the closest thing to a horror movie that the MCU has ever seen. While that horror movie descriptor has not been mentioned since Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson left the project, many have clung to the superlative and taken it to heart.
What has been shown in the movie's first trailer does look scary, but a definitively terrifying vibe has not been present in what will be a cameo-filled and reality-hopping adventure. With this change of motif, fans have started to change their opinion on if this will actually be as spooktacular as initially described.
And it seems Marvel Studios has taken this same tact on the film as well.
Doctor Strange 2's Genre Confirmed
In an official press release from Disney, the studio confirmed Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness's subgenre for the first time.
The studio described the film as a "Supernatural action-adventure," which sounds a little more upbeat and adventurous than the horror descriptor that was thrown around when MoM was first announced.
The categorization feels much more in line with its predecessor, 2016's Doctor Strange , which is listed as a "Fantasy, Super Hero, Action-Adventure" on Disney+.
No Change of Pace for Doctor Strange
While this does not mean Mutliverse of Madness is completely abandoning the horror tag thrown around over the past couple of years, it could indicate that the film will be a little more "fun" than what was initially pitched.
However, one should not get all up in arms over the change. Just because this is now a "Supernatural action-adventure" doesn't mean elements of those horror roots will not appear. Marvel Studios brought in a king of modern horror in Sam Raimi to tackle the project, so surely they still want this film to include some unsettling elements.
This does feel like it will not be as much of a departure from the original Doctor Strange as was initially pitched. But that first film did include some spooky sequences (see Stephen Strange's car crash).
So while MoM looks to be more in line with that first film, it does have the opportunity to turn up the scares just a touch. In the way that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 leaned into the goofiness of James Gunn's first film, this could do the same with the bone-chills of Doctor Strange.
Whether it's a true horror movie or not, fans will be able to find out more details soon when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, 2022.
