Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron watched Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy to adhere to the director’s style. After making a name for himself in the '80s and '90s via The Evil Dead franchise, Raimi famously helmed Sony’s Spider-Man films starring Tobey Maguire, helping to bring superhero cinema into the 21st century. Now, the horror aficionado makes his long-awaited return to the comic book genre (and his MCU debut) with one of the most anticipated films of the year, Multiverse of Madness. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Xochitl Gomez.
The director of 2016’s Doctor Strange, Scott Derrickson, was attached to direct the sequel but left the project due to creative differences. Therefore, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige brought in his former co-worker and fellow Marvel legend, Raimi, to take over. Before and after Derrickson left the picture, Multiverse of Madness was touted as the MCU’s first film with an element of horror. Suffice to say, Raimi will remain true to that mandate as it leans into his propensity for jump scares. And, with a script written by Loki creator Michael Waldron, Doctor Strange 2 is also poised to delve deeper into the MCU’s multiverse than ever before.
In an interview with SFX Magazine (via Doctor Strange Updates), Waldron talks about preparing for Multiverse of Madness. To better understand Raimi’s direction and write in a way that plays to that style, Waldron repeatedly rewatched the original Spider-Man trilogy. He explains, "[l] tried to identify his strengths, the stuff where he really excels, and work out how I could write toward that, the same way you would an actor."
At this point, Waldron is essentially the custodian of the MCU’s multiverse, fleshing out concepts like variants and alternate timelines/universes in Disney+’s Loki while adhering to what was already established in Avengers: Endgame. He has spoken at length about how Doctor Strange 2 and Loki inform each other, the emotional stakes of the film, and the danger of expanding the scope too much. It seems Waldron’s goal with Multiverse of Madness is to hold a mirror up to its main characters and emphasize the fact that Doctor Strange 2 is, first and foremost, a Sam Raimi film.
It’s safe to say that screenwriters don’t always write with the director in mind. That said, Waldron’s desire to capitalize on Raimi’s vision rather than just work within general MCU parameters makes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness all the more exciting. And if that’s not enough, trailer footage teases multiple variants, including an evil Strange/Strange Supreme, Defender Strange, and Patrick Stewart as a version of Professor X. In other words, this is a Marvel movie that is jam-packed with enough thrills to make fans - both of the MCU at large and of Raimi - very excited.
Source: SFX Magazine (via Doctor Strange Updates/Twitter)