Lots happens to Doctor Strange—to multiple Doctor Stranges—in new Multiverse Of Madness scenes
Introduced by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Disney premiered 15 minutes of Sam Raimi-heavy footage from the forthcoming MCU film
Film News Doctor Strange
On Wednesday morning in Las Vegas, Walt Disney Pictures held a presentation at exhibitor convention CinemaCon showcasing several of the films from the company’s 2022 slate. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness kicked off the panel with an introduction by Tony Chambers, Senior Vice President of Studio Distribution for The Walt Disney Company—and inevitably, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. Instead of merely sending a sizzle reel, however, Feige followed his off-the-cuff statements by screening approximately 15 minutes of material from Multiverse Of Madness, which opens nationwide May 6.
What he showed not only set up the major story and character elements in the film but gave attendees a good sense of what to expect: not so much a Marvel movie directed by none other than director Sam Raimi, but a Sam Raimi movie that happens to be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Without spoiling too much—and indeed, much of the most important information is in the film’s title—Multiverse Of Madness opens in a universe that isn’t our own. There’s a Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) there, paired with a young woman named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) whose powers hold an important key to connecting the multiverses. After first appearing in our Doctor Strange’s dreams, she later shows up in the streets outside of the wedding of Strange’s ex-girlfriend Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), where America is being chased by a giant, octopus-like being from one of those other universes.
Strange and Wong (Benedict Wong) intervene and rescue the young woman, but have a number of questions, starting with why she appeared in his dreams, and what her powers are that make her so valuable to giant, slimy aliens like the one they just took down. In the course of the conversation with America, Strange and Wong recognize that the symbols on the beast they fought were actually runes, which suggests witchcraft—leading him to seek out Wanda Maximoff, who’s wrestling with dreams of her own that she desperately wants fulfilled.
Whether or not you’re excited to specifically watch the adventures of Doctor Strange, watching Sam Raimi direct a movie of those adventures offers a palpable thrill; since directing Sony’s (first) Spider-Man trilogy, he’s always injected the films’ blockbuster filmmaking with his personality, and it’s no different here.
Aside from a handful of gore gags that feel synonymous with the Evil Dead director, the comedic tone even in those moments, and his muscular camerawork across both dramatic and action sequences, reflects the sturdy proficiency and endless inventiveness for which he’s well and justifiably known.
Of course, there’s more to come very soon for reporters and audiences alike, when Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness opens in just over a week. But even without news of the long-awaited Avatar sequel swallowing the remainder of the air from the auditorium where Disney made its content presentation, Raimi’s return—not just his work, but his personality and style—offers cause for real celebration.
38 Comments
I haven’t seen Spider-man, Far from Home yet. Am I going to be lost if I see this one before that one?
Nah.
The events of it setup this film to a degree. The most you’d need to know is that Strange messed up the multiverse a bit. That said NWH is available on digital platforms now so I’d recommend watching it first. It’s great.
The events of the What If? series are going to impact this movie way more than Spider-Man.
Oh, yeah, without doubt. Probably to some degree Loki as well.
Yeah, it’s available on digital platforms – for 20 bucks.
That’s why I’m waiting.
Yeah, it’s available on digital platforms – for 20 bucks.
That’s why I’m waiting.
It’s a top 5 MCU movie, you should watch it.
IIRC, this movie was supposed to be released before Spider-Man No Way Home.
It was but they did change the plots around to go with the schedule switchup.
You’ll be fine. The movie will tell you exactly what you need to know.
You should watch it though it’s damn good.
Ah… what’s with the spoilers like a week before it opens cmon guys…
I hate this new trend of people wanting to know every detail of a film before they see it. Does anyone like be surprised anymore besides me?
My time at A.V. Club is fleeting *cries to self*
Right there with ya. I’m already going to see this movie; I don’t need (or want) to see any more trailers or preview scenes.
It’s what happens when you feed an entire generation a steady diet of sugar coated instant gratification for their entire lives and provide them with a series of mouthpieces that can be heard loud and clear in every corner of the globe.
New trend?
When I was a kid we’d read the novelizations and comic adaptations sometimes months before the movie came out.
Yup, and Fangoria would always have tons of spoilers for kills in new horror movies. And lots of old movie trailers would give you the entire story. People being terrified of any sort of spoiler is a pretty new thing.
Settle down. If every detail of the film is in this article, I’m curious how they padded out its 2 hour, 6 minute run time.
Not sure why you’d click on an article about scenes from Doctor Strange and then complain about spoilers. It’s pretty obvious what this would be about.
I thought this was an article about 80s UK ska.
The Multiverse of SkaNess
Ooh, what’s this article? Scenes from an upcoming Dr. Strange movie? Well, I am a spoiler-averse person, so I could merely choose not to click on it. Or, and bear with me on this, I could click on it to whine about it, respond to myself with extra whines, and finish it off with a “I might quit this very website” type whine. It’s a lot of extra work… and I end up seeing the spoilers I was trying not to see, but at least I get to whine, which I apparently like more than I dislike spoilers. It’s decided!
another option is you click it, start reading and go ‘oh this has spoilers’ and stop reading.
If you can somehow get the information to us about exactly where you’re being held by the person pointing the gun at your head and forcing you to read these clearly-titled articles, perhaps we can organize a rescue…?
blink in Morse code… to tell us what you think of Keyser Soze reveal being Kevin Spacey
You did not have to read the article.
*Doctors Trange
Who are we to judge.
He says he’s ‘dirtside’.But I think he’s not on the level with us.
*Strange
the film deserves release in Saudi Arabia. Come on.
yes what the good people of that country TRULY need now is a Benedict Cumberbatch flick about wizards
hope she sees this.
Whether or not you’re excited to specifically watch the adventures of Doctor Strange
Ever since Iron Man I know people who have been excited for nothing but specifically to watch the adventures of Doctor Strange.
“but a Sam Raimi movie that happens to be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”This makes me so happy and excited