After breaking the news that America Chavez is likely coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Illuminerdi has more information to share on the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It looks like the MCU is about to get another powerful sorcerer, as Brother Voodoo will also be making his MCU debut in the film.
What’s The Deal With Brother Voodoo?
Based on a concept by Stan Lee and Roy Thomas, Brother Voodoo was created by Len Wein and John Romita Sr in 1973. After spending a great deal of time learning to become a psychologist in the United States, Jericho Drumm returns to his native Haiti to find his brother on death’s door. He’s revealed to be a Houngan, a voodoo priest who has been struck down by a disciple of the serpent god Damballah. Jericho ends up studying under Daniel’s former teacher Papa Jambo and proves to be a gifted voodoo sorcerer in his own right.
Taking up the name Brother Voodoo, Jericho worked with the spirit of his departed brother Daniel to defeat the man who’d killed Daniel. Brother Voodoo quickly became an established superhero, assisting characters like Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Doctor Strange. Brother Voodoo even briefly held the title of Sorcerer Supreme for a period of time when Doctor Strange abdicated the position, although he was seemingly killed shortly after. He was restored during the events of the AXIS event however and has resumed his role as one of the dedicated magical heroes of Earth.
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Why Brother Voodoo Showing Up Is Such A Big Deal
While he’s not specifically named in the casting call, there are plenty of hints in the character description towards his identity. He’s described as a supporting male lead who is of Caribbean descent, and Haiti is specifically mentioned as a nation tied to the character. It’s also been noted that the character shouldn’t necessarily feel American, although the role is still potentially open to African-American actors.
All of these traits seem to clearly indicate that the role will be Brother Voodoo. There just aren’t that many major Haitian Marvel characters. It also makes sense to pair Doctor Strange with another heroic sorcerer, one who could potentially take the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme down the road if necessary. With projects like Black Widow, Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision seemingly focusing on new generations and legacies of heroes, it’s logical for Marvel to set up someone as a potential torchbearer for if/when Doctor Strange leaves the big screen.
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He may even not be from the core MCU timeline but instead, in fact, be the Sorcerer Supreme of another reality. The titular “Multiverse of Madness” suggests fans will be taken across multiple realities in the film, either via magic or possibly America Chavez punching holes through the multiverse. But while the magical cast for the film is only ever increasing, so does the potential threat.
It’s also notable to point out that in recent stories in the core Marvel Comics, Brother Voodoo has found romance with Scarlet Witch. With Scarlet Witch also listed as a major character in the film, there’s always the chance that sparks could fly between the pair.
Not much is known about the actual plot of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, beyond the brief synopsis that popped up on the film industry website Backstage earlier this month. That logline suggested the plot would involve Doctor Strange’s research into the Time Stone (seemingly destroyed by Thanos in the opening moments of Avengers: Endgame) while also contending with a former ally turned enemy.
This is likely Baron Mordo, the fellow sorcerer who appeared in the previous Doctor Strange and ultimately turned against magic users by the end of the film. Or it could even potentially be the Scarlet Witch herself, tearing her way through the multiverse to find the perfect reality she wants and becoming the villain everyone was afraid she would transform into.
No matter what, it looks like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness might give Stephen Strange some backup in the form of Brother Voodoo going forward. Are you looking forward to the addition, or is it one character too many for your liking? Let us know in the comments below.
