A piece of merchandise for the upcoming MCU sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness seems to give the first look at the movie's rumored kaiju villain, Shuma-Gorath. Though the MCU's Phase 4 is technically without a major team-up movie like The Avengers, next year's Doctor Strange 2 just might be the closest thing it has to fitting the bill. Directed by Sam Raimi, the eagerly anticipated sequel will feature the return of Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange, fresh off his upcoming appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Plot details are still being kept under wraps, but one thing is clear: He's heading into the multiverse.

For well over a year now, rumors have swirled about just which Marvel Comics antagonist Doctor Strange will face in Multiverse of Madness. A popular contender has been Nightmare because of the movie's much-hyped horror aspect, while some fans have wondered if Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who is confirmed to have a role in Doctor Strange 2, will veer into the path of villainy. However, a report surfaced earlier in the year that suggested Elder God Shuma-Gorath will be the true bad guy of Doctor Strange 2.

Related: Marvel Should Lean Into Horror After Doctor Strange 2 - For Real This Time

If the new merchandise for the movie is to be believed, then that just might be true. A Doctor Strange 2 coloring book and puzzle is now available for pre-order on Australian site Booktopia, and it depicts Doctor Strange battling a creature with green skin and one ginormous eye. Comics fans will recognize that as Shuma-Gorath's typical look, thus hinting he will indeed battle Doctor Strange in the sequel.

Doctor Strange 2 puzzle Shuma-Gorath

Doctor Strange 2 was recently delayed from March 2022 to May of that same year, so it remains more than half a year away. However, its original release date was actually earlier this year; it's been one of the many movies continuously pushed back by the coronavirus pandemic. A common side effect of this is the early release of some merchandise, hence the early peek at Doctor Strange 2's Shuma-Gorath.

If this merchandise is true to the movie, then it looks like Doctor Strange 2 is leaning into the oddness of Shuma-Gorath's kaiju appearance. It might feel a bit silly to some, but it mainly is falling in line with the visual style that often populates the Doctor Strange comics. His first solo movie only just touched upon the wild and unique images that can emerge as a result of the mystic arts, but the sequel can dig much deeper. Doctor Strange 2 would be smart to lean into the weirdness of its hero's world. So far, this indicates it will, and that makes the 2022 movie much more exciting.

More: What If…? Episode 1 Teases Doctor Strange 2’s Rumored Multiverse Villain

Source: Booktopia

Key Release Dates