Marvel fans are currently gearing up for the next massive MCU crossover event in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will bring other powerful heroes into play like Wanda Maximoff and America Chavez. This comes as the next theatrical movie from Marvel Studios after 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, the MCU's next line-up in its Multiversal story.
Although No Way Home ended up being the movie that opened the Multiverse for the first time, it was initially supposed to come to theaters after Doctor Strange 2. After the two films switched places in the MCU timeline, Marvel was forced to make some major changes to No Way Home's story so that it could still include the Multiversal villains and heroes that drove its plot.
One of the biggest changes came with removing America Chavez, who was initially supposed to make an appearance alongside the web-slinger after being introduced to the Master of the Mystic Arts.
Recently, reports revealed how she would have fit into the film and what her role would have added to the Multiversal madness.
America Chavez' Replaced Role in Spider-Man 3
A report about Doctor Strange 2 from The Hollywood Reporter shared details about America Chavez's unrealized role in Marvel Studios' Spider-Man: No Way Home.
During No Way Home's development, Chavez was set to play the sorcerer's apprentice role required to assist Peter Parker & co. in connecting the Multiverse and bringing Tobey Maguire & Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men into the MCU. Following the MCU release slate shift which forced Multiverse of Madness to release after No Way Home, writers Erik Sommers and Chris McKenna were forced to cut Chavez's Spidey role in order to preserve her MCU introduction in the Doctor Strange sequel.
Ultimately, Sommers & McKenna decided that Peter Parker's best friend, Ned, was a fitting replacement to take on the magical role, using the sling ring as the device to introduce Maguire & Garfield rather than true Multiversal powers. This replacement gave Ned more screentime and eliminated an additional major superhero from a movie that was already packed full of superpowered players.
Official concept art of America Chavez's axed role in No Way Home can be seen below:
Delays to America Chavez's MCU Debut
Almost no character from Marvel lore is more connected to the Multiverse than America Chavez. This will translate into the MCU for Doctor Strange 2, as her Multiverse-jumping abilities will put her right in the middle of a battle to save the fabric of humanity.
Considering that Spider-Man: No Way Home had always planned to bring in various characters from alternate universes, Chavez would have seemingly fit seamlessly into that film's plot. The specific note that she would have been Doctor Strange's apprentice could even tease what's in store for her real first appearance, although Jacob Batalon's Ned found himself in that role instead.
Although both movies had to change their stories, No Way Home still became a global phenomenon, and Doctor Strange 2 looks to do the same when it premieres. Xochitl Gomez is set to bring a thrilling young hero into the fold with her MCU debut, even looking at what could have been with her unused appearance alongside Spidey.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is now available for digital purchase. Xochitl Gomez will debut as America Chavez on May 6 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
