When Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was officially announced during San Diego Comic-Con 2019, horror elements were part of the promise of the film's cast and crew. Even though original director Scott Derrickson departed the project, Sam Raimi's takeover of the sequel has led many to believe that those elements will stick, especially considering his experience directing the Evil Dead franchise.
In the months leading to the premiere, rumors and quotes from the cast teased the sequel's dive into horror. Wanda Maximoff actress Elizabeth Olsen previously described the MCU sequel as a “bonkers” movie while also pointing out that the crew is “going for that horror show vibe.”
A past rumor also indicated that Multiverse of Madness would have an “impressive body count" while also teasing that it would largely be rooted in the horror genre.
Now, more evidence has emerged that the sequel will embrace the horror genre.
How Scary Is Doctor Strange 2?
IGN released an exclusive featurette for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, showcasing new scenes and interview tidbits from the sequel's cast and crew.
In the video, Elizabeth Olsen offered high praise for the film's director, Sam Raimi, revealing that "he's creating as much tension as possible" in the movie. The Scarlet Witch actress also teased that fans should be ready for "that jump scare moment:"
“Sam [Raimi]’s become known for this terrorizing cinema experience. He’s creating as much tension as possible for the audience, just ready for them to have that jump scare moment.”
Raimi admitted that telling the story of the Doctor Strange sequel "was such a gigantic endeavor," pointing out that there are a lot of "dimensionalized visuals" that they used to achieve what's needed for the narrative:
"Telling the story was such a gigantic endeavor. And there are a lot of dimensionalized visuals that we use in telling that story. We shot it with an eye toward that. So, I think it's going to be a very exciting experience to go to 3D."
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige also confirmed that Multiverse of Madness was always intended to dive into the "mind-bending" and "frightening" side of the Multiverse:
"That was always where we were headed with the sequel to Doctor Strange, knowing that we wanted to explore the mind-bending, frightening side of the multiverse."
Scarlet Witch Jump Scares Incoming?
Even though Multiverse of Madness will be rated PG-13, there is still room for horror elements in the sequel.
Given that Sam Raimi has a vast history with the horror genre, it's safe to assume that he is not intimidated and constrained by the film's current rating. Instead, the director is expected to have already found a way to make those elements shine one way or another.
Based on the sequel's marketing, Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch appears to be at the center of the horror. Official footage revealed a bloody Wanda Maximoff who appears to be on a killing spree inside the Illuminati compound, destroying an Ultron bot in the process.
It's possible that Wanda could serve as the Jason Vorhees of the movie while the other heroes are her victims. The Scarlet Witch could also be involved in the confirmed jump scares, with the Avenger sneaking toward her rumored pursuit of America Chavez.
Other potential candidates for the film's jump scare moment could be Sinister Strange and even Gargantos.
Meanwhile, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige's confirmation that the Doctor Strange sequel was always intended to explore the Multiverse essentially cements the fact that the studio has a solid plan for its interconnected universe, meaning that fans should expect a smooth transition in the coming years.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to premiere in theaters on May 6.
