A new image from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been released, showing Stephen (Benedict Cumberbatch), America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) and Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) together. It’s been six years since the release of the first Doctor Strange movie, which was the last time Strange appeared a leading role before his adventures with the Avengers and Tom Holland's Spider-Man. The sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is written by Michael Waldron and directed by Sam Raimi, and will seemingly take place soon after the collapse of the multiverse in Spider-Man: No Way Home

Ever since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was first announced, anticipation for the film has been building. There is particularly strong hype around how the sequel will incorporate new MCU characters. The central newcomer to the MCU is America Chavez, a superhero who is primarily known for her presence in the Young Avengers comics. Chavez has been receiving a lot of attention lately, as Multiverse of Madness has reportedly been banned in several countries for a 12-second scene including LGBTQ+ content, as Chavez is a queer character. McAdams will be reassuming her role as Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange 2, a surgeon and Stephen's former girlfriend, who saved his life in the first Doctor Strange movie.

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Now, a new image released by Total Film from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features Strange, America, and Christine standing together in some kind of tunnel. The trio are looking off into the distance with a concerned expression on their faces, and Christine has her hand extended out toward America, perhaps as a protective gesture. Christine is pictured wearing some kind of blue uniform, a departure from the medical scrubs she was typically seen wearing in Doctor Strange, while Strange is wearing his cloak and America her usual red, white and blue jacket. Check out the full image below:

Doctor Strange 2 Image Christine and America Chavez

McAdams has stated that Christine will have a much larger role in Multiverse of Madness than in the first movie. Even though Christine and Strange are no longer together (and previous Doctor Strange 2 trailers indicate that she is getting married to someone else), the two seem like they will have to work together somehow to navigate the multiverse. Considering the sequel movie has Strange traveling through the multiverse, it's possible that the Christine in this image is a variant, and one who is unknown to Strange.

While it is difficult to glean any concrete clues regarding Doctor Strange 2's plot from this image, a few observations can be made. It’s clear that America and Christine will be spending some time on screen together. Based on the composition and body language in the photo, it seems likely that whatever variant of Christine that Strange and America are working with is helping them escape from something — perhaps the Illuminati, as recent Doctor Strange 2 trailers confirm Stephen will encounter. When Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is released on May 6, all questions about how these new and returning characters will fit together will finally be answered.

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Source: Total Film