Stephen Strange has become an increasingly popular Marvel hero over the last few years. It is partly due to Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of the sorcerer, but it also thanks to the stunning visuals Doctor Strange has provided. The sorcerer's fight sequences are unlike any other in the MCU because of the skills Doctor Strange has at his disposal.
Doctor Strange first appeared in the MCU in 2016 as Stephen Strange suffers a personal tragedy that will no longer allow him to perform surgeries. Frustrated with his limited progress, he finds himself in a world beyond his conception with a brand new identity. Now a Master of the Mystic Arts, Strange squares off against large, formidable forces that appear almost impossible to beat. Strange is eventually forced to join forces with the Avengers once a threat bigger than them all threatens to wipe out half the world.
With a title like Master of the Mystic Arts and a group of heroes that rely on sorcery as a huge part of their defense, Doctor Strange films are bound to involve a lot of innovative visuals. Strange's possession of the time stone helps to amplify the beauty of each fight sequence he's involved in, as people moving through time literally drag objects across the screen. The upcoming sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will surely incorporate more of the complex fights Strange is always wound up in, as he will be forced to venture through the Multiverse and all it contains. While there have been snippets of the Multiverse in recent Marvel creations (specifically the television series), What If...?'s eighth episode gives the best glimpse of what the Multiverse of Madness may have in store.
Doctor Strange films aren't unaccustomed to drifting through settings at the snap of a finger, but with the Multiverse being so complex, there will be room for Strange to showcase skills no one has seen from him yet. In What If...?'s eighth episode, "What If... Ultron Won?" Ultron isn't content with destroying the universe he already knows. Sensing something beyond his universe, Ultron becomes obsessed with locating the Watcher, who has guided every episode of What If...? Eventually, Ultron succeeds in finding him, and the two launch into a battle that drags them across the Multiverse. The pair crashes through various universes at the drop of a hat, providing a glimpse of what the Multiverse of Madness battles may look like on a visual level.
Doctor Strange featured many impressive battles, but one of the most noteworthy is the battle between Doctor Strange and Mordo versus Kaecilius. The foes chase one another through the streets of New York, quite literally bending reality to their advantage. Visually, it's hard to wrap the mind around all that's happening. With buildings and roads splitting, rotating, and multiplying, it almost feels like the audience is watching Strange battle in a kaleidoscope. A less mind-bending fight (though just as visually stunning) occurs on Titan between Thanos and Strange in Infinity War. Strange and Thanos exchange enchanted blows as Strange tries to hold Thanos off without using the time stone's power. While the Watcher and Ultron don't begin altering the world around them in order to win a fight, it doesn't mean Strange isn't capable of doing so in the Multiverse of Madness. In fact, it gives Strange more resources to use to his advantage.
WandaVision and Loki have both been a critical part of establishing the Multiverse of Madness and they will have tricks of their own to contribute. WandaVision was built off of Wanda's own ability to alter reality, allowing her to bend an entire city and its residents under her control. Now that Wanda has officially transitioned into the Scarlet Witch, the difference in her character means that she will begin carrying herself differently in battle. Glimpses of this were already seen in WandaVision, as Wanda expanded her knowledge of her magic with the help of Agatha. This new knowledge was the reason Wanda was able to defeat Agatha in the series finale. Should her reality-altering tendencies continue, Wanda will be a difficult person for Doctor Strange to get through to. As the post-credits scene has shown Wanda already building on her understanding of her magic (by reading a book that once belonged to Agatha), the grief-stricken witch will be a much bigger threat in the Doctor Strange sequel.
Loki may not have shown any insane reality alterings, but it has introduced a string of characters (and their variants) that will make the Multiversal battle incredibly difficult to overcome. With the added issues it seems Spider-Man: No Way Home is set to throw into the mix, the Multiverse is growing more complicated and dangerous with each Marvel project. Strange's presence in the Spider-Man film likely means that he will be involved in another fight that allows him to showcase some of his visually stunning capabilities. Even if he doesn't participate in No Way Home in a big way, the Multiverse of Madness will give him plenty of time to make up for it. Between the presence of the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the visuals are sure to be absolutely stunning.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will premiere in theaters on March 25, 2022.