The wait is almost over for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which the film’s writer says will feature some of the most powerful characters the MCU has ever seen.
Magic was broadly explored in the MCU through the first Doctor Strange film, but one could argue that the mystic arts were initially introduced all the way back in 2011 with Loki’s debut in Thor.
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Since then, characters like Wanda Maximoff, Wong, and Agatha Harkness have expanded the universe’s magical possibilities, and Multiverse of Madness seems poised to kick things into an even higher gear.
DOCTOR STRANGE AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS POWERS
During the official Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness press conference, writer Michael Waldron explained how the film’s title character has developed his magical skill since audiences first met him in 2016:
“The first movie was very much about Stephen Strange entering this world of magic, learning about it, and beginning to master it. Then we had Stephen in several other movies, and the Avengers films, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. This is our first time really in a movie that is his, and this is our chance to focus on that magic, and check in on what does it look like five years on, however many years on.
This guy who was the greatest surgeon, now he’s been a sorcerer for a while, he’s been through a lot, how good of a sorcerer is he. We’re seeing him kind of at the height of his powers, and I think that’s really exciting.”
The power Doctor Strange has displayed throughout his first five MCU appearances has already been pretty impressive, but it sounds like a new level is going to be reached in Multiverse of Madness. Apparently, bargaining with Dormammu, going toe-to-toe with Thanos, and making the world forget Peter Parker was just the tip of the iceberg compared to what Strange will be able to accomplish in his second spotlight film.
Along with Doctor Strange himself, Waldron says some his supporting cast will be getting upgraded:
“You’re encountering Wong, who has become Sorcerer Supreme, he’s at the height of his powers. Then you have Wanda, who is actualized in a whole new way from the end of WandaVision, so you could say she’s at the height of her powers, so I guess we’re expanding.”
As Waldron mentioned, the WandaVision finale saw Wanda embrace her true self as the Scarlet Witch. During the climactic showdown in episode 9, “The Series Finale”, Agatha read from the Darkhold that the Scarlet Witch is imbued with chaos magic, is more powerful than the Sorcerer Supreme, and is destined to destroy the world. If the book of the damned is to be believed, then Wong and Strange are going to have their work cut out for them if they have to go up against Wanda.
Speaking of the Darkhold, the post credits scene of Wandavision‘s final episode saw Wanda take a page out of Dr. Strange’s book by using her astral form to further develop her skills. While Strange was learning the magical basics in Kamar-Taj, Wanda was diving deep into the realm of dark magic by reading the Darkhold, which may have caused her power to grow even more than how Agatha described. Wanda is desperate to find a way to bring her children back, and there’s no telling what she’s willing to do to accomplish that goal.
Who do you think will be the most powerful character during Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness? How excited are you for the film to finally premiere? Make sure to leave a comment, and follow us on social media for more!
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