Marvel Studios is bringing magic and mystic arts to their already established cinematic universe with Doctor Strange, introducing the audience to neurosurgeon-turned-sorcerer Stephen Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch). Doctor Strange will not only explore new dimensions but it will also bring a great amount of mind-bending visuals that will make it standout from the rest of the movies in the MCU.
A big part of the appeal of this movie lies in the jump to other dimensions that have not been explored yet or have been briefly teased – such as the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man. Doctor Strange comes in the right moment to open new paths in the MCU that will benefit upcoming movies.
During a press conference, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige spoke about the importance of introducing alternate dimensions in the MCU, especially with a character like Stephen Strange, who goes through a harsh transformation in order to become the Sorcerer Supreme, leaving his ego and own demons behind. So far, the MCU has had super soldiers, Norse Gods, and even an android keeping an infinity stone on its forehead, but Stephen Strange brings new elements to this already eclectic mix.
We're 14 movies in and at the end of the day we have to push the boundaries. You need a something different and certainly this movie and this character [Doctor Strange] fits all of that. Tapping into other dimensions, tapping into sort of that supernatural realm of the Marvel Comic Universe is gonna come in handy, you know, as we move forward in the cinematic universe, so the timing is perfect.
Doctor Strange delves deeper into the cosmic side of the MCU, which we have already visited with Guardians of the Galaxy and got a small taste of the dangers of some of these realms in Ant-Man, with the original Wasp being trapped in the Quantum Realm/microverse. With the help of his mentor, the Ancient One, and a few mystical artifacts such as the Eye of Agamotto (which, by the way, is said to contain the time stone), Strange will pave the way for upcoming characters and their worlds.
Some of these psychedelic dimensions – very reminiscent of the comic panels by Steve Ditko – have been teased in images and sneak peeks, and even though this movie will introduce us to some of these alternate worlds, it will just be a taste of what’s to come, as there is much more to explore and not enough screen time. With movies such as Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, and Ant-Man and the Wasp in Marvel’s near future, the journey through alternate dimensions will continue, expanding this cinematic universe and bringing new characters, new worlds, and fantastic elements to the mix.
