Warning! Spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
An Avengers: Endgame deleted scene involving Wanda Maximoff and Stephen Strange would have made the Scarlet Witch's appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness better. The Doctor Strange sequel continues the titular character's personal arc in the MCU after the events of the Infinity Saga. Doctor Strange 2 also functions as a continuation from WandaVision as it tackles the story of Wanda, now going by the name the Scarlet Witch, after the Maximoff Anomaly in Westview.
Wanda and Doctor Strange are two of the most prominent magic-wielders in the MCU. As the franchise goes through a transitional phase after the events of Avengers: Endgame, they are also expected to play a prominent role in the universe moving forward. Both characters were part of the final battle against Thanos in Endgame and then were in attendance at the funeral service for Tony Stark, but Doctor Strange 2 features their first real interaction on screen. This wasn't the initial plan, however.
In a deleted Avengers: Endgame scene, Wanda and Doctor Strange are seen teaming up during the film's climactic battle. This was revealed through a behind-the-scenes image featuring the two superheroes using magic together. It's unclear what was exactly happening at the moment, but if directors Joe and Anthony Russo hadn't cut it from the movie, then a connection between Wanda and Doctor Strange would have been established. In turn, this would have given their reunion followed by their deadly battle in Doctor Strange 2 more emotional impact considering that they have a history together. It would have been a much better set-up to their conflict than just a brief conversation that had some few inside jokes.
Comparatively, the fight between Iron Man and Steve Captain America in Captain America: Civil War is so heartbreaking because of their history. Although they both have great points regarding their conflict over the Sokovia Accords, it's difficult to watch these teammates and friends having a falling out. At that point, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers have already gone through a lot together, including multiple missions in The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. The magic-wielders still wouldn't have the kind of dynamic that Iron Man and Captain America have, but previously seeing a Wanda and Doctor Strange team-up in Avengers: Endgame would have established some connection between the pair going into Doctor Strange 2. That would have reminded audiences that they were on the same team, which makes it more of a shame that now they are fighting each other.
In hindsight, seeing Doctor Strange seek out Wanda for help after not reaching out during the Maximoff Anomaly is kind of off-putting. He was well aware of what was going down in Westview when it was happening, and yet he never checked up on her. Even if their team-up in Avengers: Endgame didn't happen, they knew each other. Perhaps if Doctor Strange contacted Wanda before she got deep into learning from the Darkhold, the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have been prevented altogether.
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