Screenwriter Michael Waldron confirms Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will explore the effect recent MCU events have had on its titular hero. It's odd to consider it now, but had the MCU's Phase 4 rolled out as originally planned, Doctor Strange 2 would've debuted just last month. Instead, due to COVID-related delays, the Sam Raimi-directed sequel won't premiere until March 2022. Fresh off his appearance in this December's Spider-Man: No Way Home, Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange will return for a new, horror-themed adventure.

Plot details for Doctor Strange 2 are still being kept under wraps, but the title has confirmed one thing: It's heading into the Marvel multiverse. Part of the groundwork for this was laid with the Disney+ series WandaVision, which rolled out earlier this year to great acclaim. Elizabeth Olsen will star alongside Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange 2, thus continuing Scarlet Witch's story in the aftermath of WandaVision. Doctor Strange 2 will also feature America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), Wong (Benedict Wong), Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams).

Related: MCU Theory: Doctor Strange 2 & WandaVision's Real Villain (Not Mephisto)

Despite that impressive supporting cast, Doctor Strange 2 will still be centered on its titular character. Waldron, who also serves as head writer on Marvel's current Disney+ series Loki, recently spoke to SYFY WIRE and offered some teases about what to expect from Multiverse of Madness. Naturally, Waldron didn't let any plot details slip. However, he did reveal he brought one approach from Loki over to Doctor Strange 2, asking himself:

"‘How can you go deeper into the character of Stephen Strange?’ This is a guy who’s been through a lot in the last several years. What effect does that have on somebody so powerful? That’s exciting. And beyond all that, he’s just a great adventurer — a great adventure hero you just like to watch kick ass."

Doctor Strange conjuring a spell

It's definitely safe to say Stephen Strange has been through a lot in the MCU. From his first foray into the world of the mystic arts in Doctor Strange (which also saw him die repeatedly to save Earth) to the grueling battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin) in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Stephen has been forced into some intense situations. And yet, as seen with the latter two films, he managed to be the one with the clearest sense of what the heroes had to do to win. That must have weighed heavily on him.

Therefore, it's exciting to hear Doctor Strange 2 will take that into consideration. The MCU is at its best when it is digging into the characters that keep it alive, and that element has even been the highlight of the Disney+ shows. If Waldron, who has so far done a brilliant job of digging into Tom Hiddleston's God of Mischief on Loki, keeps this in mind for Doctor Strange 2, it has the potential to be a really exciting, engaging sequel. Balancing character moments with a multiverse-spanning plot might be tricky, so here's hoping everyone involved manages to pull it off.

More: Doctor Strange 2: How Is The Eye of Agamotto Back After Thanos Destroyed It?

Source: SYFY WIRE

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