Why Doctor Strange 2's Wasted Fantastic Four Cameo Was No Mistake

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness might have seemingly squandered its Fantastic Four cameo, but this is not the case. In Multiverse of Madness, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) takes a very dark turn as the Scarlet Witch, scouring through the Multiverse in pursuit of America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) to reach her children in another universe. This brings Wanda face-to-face with Earth-838's Illuminati, including Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic (John Krasinki).

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' most talked-about sequence, Wanda brutally murders the members of Earth-838's Illuminati, with Reed being turned into noodle-like strips by the Scarlet Witch. Reed's death seemingly undercuts his MCU debut just a few minutes prior, which also delivered on the long-time fan-casting of Krasinki as Mr. Fantastic. Wanda's battle with the Doctor Strange 2 Illuminati members is an extremely shocking sequence in Multiverse of Madness, and Reed's appearance and very swift demise are a big part of what gives it its power.

With Wanda corrupted by the Dark Hold, Multiverse of Madness portrays Scarlet Witch like a slasher movie villain, which gives director Sam Raimi a means to bring some of his well-known horror movie talents into the story. Moreover, the fact that Reed Richards makes his first MCU appearance in the film (and Krasinki playing him to boot) makes his sudden defeat a particularly harsh gut punch for the audience. Compared to other Multiversal cameos in the movie, there's a familiarity to the Illuminati that makes each of their deaths impactful, with Reed's being even harder to take.

John Krasinski As Reed Richards In Doctor Strange 2

Audiences know Haley Atwell and Lashana Lynch already as Peggy Carter and Monica Rambeau, with Multiverse of Madness placing them in alternate versions of their established characters and Atwell having already voiced Captain Carter on Disney+'s What If...? series. The same is true for Anson Mount's new version of Black Bolt after his role in 2017's Inhumans, and the world has had decades of familiarity with Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier in the Fox-produced X-Men movies. None of that is to say that their appearances or deaths in the film are negligible, but Reed's demise has the grimmest impact of them all by virtue of his MCU debut.

After Wanda makes Black Bolt's brain explode, her merciless killing of Reed immediately places everyone's head on the chopping block. Multiverse of Madness marks the MCU arrival of a long-awaited character like Reed Richards ahead of the Fantastic Four joining the MCU, and even grants many fans their wish with Krasinki's casting, only for his death to pull the rug out from under all expectations. All bets are off, and anyone can die, which is very much the case when the Illuminati are slaughtered down to just the lone survivor of the alternate Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

Considering Marvel's confirmed plans for the Fantastic Four, Multiverse of Madness won't be anywhere near the last audiences see of Reed Richards. Krasinki might even potentially return as the Earth-616 version of Mister Fantastic, but, in making his first MCU appearance, Reed Richards' abrupt murder did not short-change his impact in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. On the contrary, it made the movie's horror elements and Wanda's dichotomy of heroine and villainess that much more chilling.

NEXT: Doctor Strange 2 Detail Hints At Scarlet Witch's Future Redemption

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