Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness risks having too many characters. When Marvel announced their Phase 4 plans, Doctor Strange 2 seemed to be the most exciting film in the entire slate. Unfortunately, in recent months it’s become a lot more concerning. Director Scott Derrickson suggested that Doctor Strange 2 would be Marvel’s first horror movie, bringing some much-needed tonal diversity to the MCU. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige publicly walked that back, however, instead saying it would “be a big MCU film with scary sequences in it.” Not long later, Derrickson stepped down as director, and Marvel is yet to announce his replacement.
On top of all this, there are concerns that Marvel is simply trying to do too much in a single movie. In addition to Stephen Strange and the Scarlet Witch, it’s assumed Doctor Strange 2 will continue the story of Baron Mordo. Links to the Loki and WandaVision Disney+ shows could indicate potential cameos, and there are rumors the film will introduce America Chavez of the Young Avengers and the sorcerer Brother Voodoo. There have long been rumors that Doctor Strange 2’s villain will be Nightmare, lord of the Dream Dimension, adding another character and concept into the mix.
On the face of it, Marvel appear to be tossing far too many characters and concepts into one film. The mistake is a familiar one, with Marvel making it before with 2010’s Iron Man 2 and 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. In both cases, Marvel was driven by a desire to set up the future of the MCU, introducing key heroes like Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Vision. Unfortunately, the setup cost them a clear narrative and strong character arcs. In both cases, the directors - Jon Favreau and Joss Whedon - stepped away from directorial duties at Marvel after the experience. There’s a potential parallel there with Scott Derrickson’s decision to part ways with Marvel as Doctor Strange 2 director.
This isn’t necessarily a case of history repeating itself, though. The Marvel Studios of Iron Man 2 and Avengers: Age of Ultron no longer exists; in 2015, Disney forced a corporate restructure that put Kevin Feige in charge of the MCU. Feige has tended to give his directors a lot of room to maneuver, wary of sacrificing individual films in order to deliver a better payoff further down the line. As proven with Captain America: Civil War, another film that could easily have become overstuffed, the new Marvel Studios can comfortably handle a lot of characters.
The real issue may not be with the number of characters and ideas at all. Rather, the problem may simply be one of trust; a narrative has developed that suggests Doctor Strange 2 is in trouble, and as a result viewers are less likely to believe Marvel will make this film work. For now, it’s true that Marvel seem to be taking a risk, but it’s far too soon to say whether or not it will pay off; for one thing, Marvel is yet to announce Scott Derrickson’s replacement as director of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The truth is that only time will tell.
More: What Doctor Strange 2’s Director Exit Means For MCU Phase 4
- Black Widow Release Date: 2021-07-09 The Eternals Release Date: 2021-11-05 Shang Chi Release Date: 2021-09-03 Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness Release Date: 2022-05-06 Thor: Love and Thunder Release Date: 2022-07-08 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Release Date: 2022-11-11
