Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to introduce a brand-new hero to the MCU in the form of America Chavez. The character will be portrayed by Xochitl Gomez (Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club) in the sequel, marking her Marvel debut as a superhero who can create portals into the Multiverse. The exact details of Chavez's role in the movie are still being kept under wraps, but official footage from marketing may have shed some light on the subject.
The teaser trailer initially showed Chavez being chased by Gargantos for unknown reasons, but the attack was thwarted by Strange and Wong. In the main trailer, the young hero can be seen traveling through different realities with Strange, hinting that a team-up with the sorcerer will happen at some point in the sequel.
Now, new details about Chavez's appearance in the sequel have been revealed by the film's director.
The Dynamic Between Doctor Strange and America Chavez
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness director Sam Raimi sat down with Empire to talk about America Chavez's role in the upcoming MCU sequel.
Raimi shared that Benedict Cumberbatch's titular sorcerer is "still learning about the Multiverse" in the film. The director then unveiled that Chavez's sudden arrival appears to have caught the sorcerer by surprise since the young hero can "actually travel" through alternate realities.
As a result, the veteran filmmaker revealed that Strange will have "to learn from a kid" to potentially save the Multiverse:
“Strange is still learning about the Multiverse. And here’s a character that can actually travel through it. He’s such a know-it-all all the time, and to have to learn from a kid probably smarts.”
Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch chimed in by sharing more details about the titular sorcerer. The MCU veteran revealed that the sequel involves "a lot of reckoning" and self-discovery for the character, saying that Strange is "almost a stranger to himself" before the film begins:
“There's a lot of reckoning. And a lot of self-discovery. Strange is almost a stranger to himself before this film unfolds and reveals what, essentially, is in his nature, that he then has to either confront or resist or fall into or become.”
When it comes to finding answers to the questions of who Strange really is, Cumberbatch admitted that there will be "some very unexpected conclusions:"
“There are some very bold ideas, and some extraordinary tests of Strange and encounters. There are some very unexpected conclusions."
Alongside the reveal, a brand-new still showcasing Strange and Chavez as prisoners in an unknown location was released:
How America Chavez Fits in the MCU
Throughout the MCU, Strange has had many interesting interactions with other heroes and villains, such as Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, Chris Pratt's Peter Quill, and recently, Tom Holland's Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Based on the director's remarks, it looks like Strange's demeanor will be tested once again due to Chavez's inclusion, meaning that more friendly (and non-friendly) banters will be featured.
Strange has a strong sense of pride, but Raimi's reveal suggests that he needs to lower it to fully learn the Multiverse from Chavez, especially after the director pointed out that the sorcerer is "such a know-it-all all the time."
Given that Strange is usually portrayed as a mentor in the films, it would be a breath of fresh air to see the titular sorcerer being taught by a young hero like Chavez.
Meanwhile, the latest still from the sequel appears to be taken from the scene where Strange was captured by the Illuminati, led by Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier. This image confirms that Chavez was apprehended as well.
It remains to be seen how Strange and Chavez will be rescued, or if the pair will find a way to escape by themselves. However, previous evidence shows Wanda Maximoff covered in blood in the same location where the Multiverse-hopping duo is being kept as prisoners. This seems to hint that Wanda's attack (or rescue) could be the reason behind the pair's escape.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to premiere in theaters on May 6, 2022.
