Warning: Contains major Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness spoilers
Marvel writer Michael Waldron details how Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sets up a possible solo MCU film for its newest hero, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). The Sam Raimi-directed Phase 4 film finds its titular character team up with Chavez, an inter-dimensional teenager with uncontrollable powers that allow her to create portals into different universes. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) must protect the teenager from Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), who has embraced the immense power of the ancient evil spell book, the Darkhold, in an attempt to steal Chavez's abilities.
By the film's end, Chavez finally learns to properly manipulate her powers and defeats Wanda by showing her alternate universe children who she really is. With no one else in the multiverse to turn to, Chavez joins Doctor Strange and Wong (Benedict Wong) at Kamer-Taj. There she begins her training as a sorcerer, preparing her for future adventures within the MCU.
Vanity Fair recently sat down with the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer, who shared details of how the film could be setting up a possible standalone project for America Chavez. During Doctor Strange and Chavez's romp through the multiverse, the duo landed on Earth-838 where memory technology allowed the heroes to see how young Chavez inadvertently opened a portal and accidentally transported her mothers to a separate universe, seemingly losing them forever. Waldron explained that Chavez was always looking for a family, and she found that with Doctor Strange and Wong, however, the writer adds, "We also set up the next chapter in the America Chavez story." Read more of what Waldron said below.
"Getting into the real specificity of her with her parents came a little bit later in the process. It felt, at least to me initially, that maybe we should hold some of that back. It felt like the sort of stuff you’d rather answer when you’re getting into America’s solo outing. But as we continued to build the story, we found that we wanted to know more about her. And, really, Strange would want to know more about her. It was just honest to their relationship and conversations."
Waldron hints at a future standalone film for Chavez, yet no solo film or television series for her character has been revealed in the upcoming MCU slate. With Marvel Studios having ten films and six television projects officially in the works, they have their hands full with a wealth of material. Although no official America Chavez film or television series has been announced, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is known for planning far ahead in the future to ensure each entry into the MCU contributes to a cohesive story line.
The inter-dimensional hero was initially intended to join the shared superhero universe in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, MCU projects were delayed and Chavez's introduction was pushed back into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, the ending of Doctor Strange 2 set up Chavez as a character who will feature prominently in the MCU. Her youth, sorcerer training, and open-ended past leaves a lot of room to be explored. In both the comics and other media, she has frequently interacted with the similar-aged Kamala Khan, opening the door to a potential Ms. Marvel crossover. What role Chavez will play in the future of the MCU remains to be seen, however, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will most likely not be her last appearance.
Source: Vanity Fair
