With WandaVision having come to its conclusion, MCU fans are likely awaiting their next superhero adventure with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. On top of that, Black Widow may finally get the chance to see its long-delayed theatrical release come to fruition. Loki's time-bending adventures will also be hitting Disney Plus in June. Later this year, Eternals will also be seeing a theatrical release. While there is plenty of hype surrounding all of these projects, one Marvel movie seems to be getting lost in the shuffle when it comes to fan excitement: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
To be fair, that movie is still a ways off with its planned 2022 release date. It's a lot easier to get excited over projects that are going to be available much sooner. However, this particular project should be the one that more fans are losing their minds over. There is plenty to talk about in terms of why this could be one of the most consequential movies in the entire MCU, and why the excitement and anticipation for it should be a lot more prevalent than it is.
The 'Madness' Factor
Just looking at the title of this movie, it's clear that this is not going to be the standard superhero fare. Doctor Strange is literally going to find himself in a "multiverse of madness." That might just be the most intriguing subtitle that a Marvel movie has ever had (and with other movies like Thor: Love and Thunder and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, they really do seem to be getting more creative overall). The first Doctor Strange movie already did a great job subverting the typical final confrontation with the big bad villain that Marvel movies often face. This sequel could take the adventures of the Sorcerer Supreme even further.
Aside from the obvious visual spectacle that will likely come with hurling Doctor Strange into multiple new worlds, there's the question of how this story is going to play out. so many Marvel movies have been tied mostly to one location, or even just one planet. If WandaVision has proven anything, it's that there are some really amazing and detailed stories that can be told while putting the characters through all sorts of different iterations. Fans might finally be able to really bask in some of the cosmic weirdness that Jack Kirby brought to the comics. Luckily, Marvel has also ensured that this vision will be realized by pretty much the perfect person.
Raimi Returns To Marvel
One of the most exciting aspects of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness isn't what will be happening in front of the camera, but who will be running everything behind it: Sam Raimi. Not only has he worked in multiple genres of film from action to crime drama to western to horror, but he also famously helped bring another Marvel superhero to the screen and change the game for comic book movies. Raimi's own Spider-Man trilogy is often regarded as a high watermark for the genre (even if the quality does differ from movie to movie), and knowing that he could bring his signature style to an MCU project, particularly one with so much potential for visual spectacle, is beyond exciting.
Raimi's hiring is actually more reminiscent of the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Back in phase one, established directors like Joe Johnston and Kenneth Branagh were brought on board to apply their own unique takes on superhero stories. While Marvel has elevated some truly talented directors to Blockbuster status, such as Taika Waititi, Peyton Reed, and Ryan Coogler, none of them have the track record of a veteran like Raimi. Having him be at the helm of an MCU project is a huge deal, as Kevin Feige clearly trusts his no doubt unique vision for the project. Fans should be excited to see if any elements from Raimi's past, such as horror sequences, swooping camera movements, and gross-out humor make their way into the world of Doctor Strange.
Speaking of a particular webslinger...
Strange Alchemy
Back in the days before Avengers: Infinity War hit theaters, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely talked about applying a Russo brothers principle to their story: strange alchemy. Speaking with Cinemablend back in 2018, McFeely described it as what happens when you combine any two characters in any given situation. The Russos cut their teeth in ensemble comedies like Arrested Development, Community, and Happy Endings, so they know the importance of character dynamics and how they interact with each other. It's how fans ended up with pairings like Iron Man and Peter Quill, or Thor and Rocket. Those character interactions were part of what made Infinity War and Endgame such engaging stories.
Multiverse of Madness is set to feature Doctor Strange re-teaming with one of his Infinity War pals, Spider-Man. So not only does Sam Raimi get to apply his signature style to a new hero, but he also gets to work with the one that he helped bring to the screen the first time. On top of that, Elizabeth Olsen will also be appearing as the (newly dubbed) Scarlet Witch, marking yet another magic user for Strange to contend with. There's no word yet on how the dynamics of this trio will play out, such as whether Wanda Maximoff will be helping or working against the heroes following the events of WandaVision. Considering that Wanda and Doctor Strange have never had any interaction, it's going to be wild seeing how they either fight against each other or work together.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is still a ways off, but considering everything it has going for it, this is by far the MCU movie that fans should be most excited about. It could change everything, and it could end up being a fun, unfamiliar, and wild ride.