Fans have been patiently waiting for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to hit theaters. The build-up to the project has spanned over more than a few stories, including WandaVision, Loki, What If…?, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now the project is only a month away, and soon it will be time to catch up with the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange and Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch.
The two heroes will certainly make for a great mystical power duo onscreen. In fact, they're two of the most powerful characters currently active in the MCU, according to one Marvel Studios producer. But who would win in a fight?
On paper, Wanda's Chaos Magic sure does seem to be one of the more powerful forces in the MCU. Thankfully, the movie’s director, Sam Raimi, is here to offer his thoughts on the matter.
Who Is More Powerful: Scarlet Witch or Doctor Strange?
In an interview with Fandango, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness director Sam Raimi was asked his thoughts about who would win in a fight: Wanda Maximoff or Doctor Strange?
The director admitted how he "think[s] Wanda's magic... is more powerful than almost any of the other characters in this picture," but that "Doctor Strange has the knowledge of the mystic arts... [and] the help of Kamar-Taj:"
"Wow. That's a question I've been asking kids on the playground since third grade. Who is stronger, this character or that character? Well, I think Wanda's magic, from Marvel lore, is more powerful than almost any of the other characters in this picture, but Doctor Strange has the knowledge of the mystic arts that Wanda doesn't have, and he's got the help of Kamar-Taj. If you were to pit them against each other, different altered versions of themselves ... there could be a Doctor Strange out there that's more powerful than our Wanda. Or there could be a Wanda out there who is more powerful than our Wanda here. So, because of these altered versions, it's all a mixed bag of possibilities."
When asked if fans were going to see Variants of Wanda Maximoff in the upcoming sequel, Raimi candidly confirmed that "yes," there will be more than one and how playing with multiple versions of any given character was a "great challenge... and [also] great fun:"
"Yes. The movie is a journey into the multiverse, so you do see different iterations of Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange, and even Lizzie Olsen's character of Wanda Maximoff. So, the actors have to play that. It's a great challenge for them and great fun to direct them playing these altered versions of themselves."
The Strange Scarlet MCU Battle
The theoretical clash between the two magic wielders was actually directly referenced by Agatha Harkness in the WandaVision season finale, where she mentioned how "[The Scarlet Witch's] power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme." This seems like a pretty clear answer to the question at hand. After all, Wanda could have killed Thanos on the battlefield if he hadn't reigned fire, so that power level seems accurate.
However, the statement made by Kathryn Hahn's villain is a tricky one. She mentions the Sorcerer Supreme by name, but at the time it was said, Wong was in that mystical position; Strange only missed out because he was blipped. So maybe there's some wiggle room for the good doctor to have a chance?
Based on how everything seems to be shaping up, fans might not have to wait long to see at least one outcome of a confrontation between the two. From hints in the teaser trailers to her ominous presence on some of the posters, it sure seems like Olsen's Scarlet Witch is going to be clashing magic with Stephen Strange soon rather than later.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6.
