Despite all the chaos and surprises that Spider-Man: No Way Home delivered, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness looks to be Marvel Studios' biggest venture since the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame. With both Benedict Cumberbatch's titular sorcerer and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch coming back, the heroic cast was already looking stacked. But the most recent trailer has made clear the immense scale of the Multiverse romp between Ultron Bots and the return of Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier.
While fans' attention may be focussed on all the cameos and game-changing events Multiverse of Madness promises, there's far more to the long-awaited sequel than just that. Ever since its initial conception, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has promised it will be the MCU's first scary film and, with veteran horror director Sam Raimi at the helm, it appears set to deliver on expectations.
Even with assurances from the cast and crew, many have remained skeptical that Marvel and Disney will allow Raimi to truly embrace the scary direction. But according to recent reports, they remain perfectly intact despite reshoots.
Doctor Strange Reports Debunk Scarlet Witch Rumors
Recent rumors indicated some of Scarlet Witch's scarier scenes in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were dialed back in reshoots which began in November 2021.
However, according to The Cosmic Circus' Lizzie Hill, these reports are false, and Wanda's role remains similar to the original cut which wrapped filming in April 2021.
How Scary is Scarlet Witch in Multiverse of Madness?
While the most recent trailer - released during the Super Bowl - undeniably focussed on the classic Marvel action and Multiverse chaos of the Doctor Strange sequel, the original teaser emphasized the darker and scarier mystical elements.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was initially revealed as Marvel Studios' scariest film yet, but it was made clear it wouldn't quite go to horror levels. Although this was all before original director Scott Derrickson left the project due to creative differences leading Spider-Man filmmaker Sam Raimi to step in. Despite his classic Marvel fame, Raimi has always been first-and-foremost a horror director, making him the perfect man to replace Derrickson.
The latest trailer for the Multiverse-hopping sequel eased many fans' fear that Disney was looking to dial back the scarier elements with some fairly gruesome moments. One scene showed Wanda stained with multiple colors of blood, indicating that she would be going on a killing spree, and this movie doesn't seem to be holding back on graphically depicting it despite its PG-13 direction.
Based on the most recent trailer and previous rumors, Wanda certainly appears to be the villain of Multiverse of Madness. WandaVision set the stage for the Avenger's villainous turn as she held an entire town captive to allow her to live out her fantasy life before it eventually came to an end as she realized her full potential to become the Scarlet Witch. With the reality-bending witch now having reached previously unheard-of levels of power, she will certainly pose a significant threat to Doctor Strange.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6, 2022.
