Does Doctor Strange have a mid-credits scenes? YES! If you’re interested, stay all the way through the credits to ensure you view both.
And by “both” we are indeed confirming that there are precisely two (2!) buttons during and at the end of the credits roll, proving the previous leaks and rumors true. Both of course, lay seeds for the future of the Benedict Cumberbatch's Sorcerer Supreme in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here we'll discuss the first of the two scenes and if you'd like to know about the final post-credits scene and discuss that, head here.
NOTE: The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Marvel's Doctor Strange
As the film wraps up, after the above-the-line credits roll and the Doctor Strange movie logo displays, the first of the two buttons plays to reveal Stephen Strange continuing to fulfill his responsibilities as the new Sorcerer Supreme. Strange is in full costume, including the Cloak of Levitation, and wearing classy gloves for the first time to cover his hand scarring.
And he's talking to Thor.
There's some playful magic at work with Doctor Strange summoning a large glass of beer (instead of tea - Thor doesn't drink tea) and then refilling it, but it's the situation and dialogue that tease an exciting upcoming team-up.
Although Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is a powerful being not from Earth, Strange's concern is appropriately focused on Thor's adopted brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). It was Loki after all who led the first alien invasion against Earth during the events of 2012's The Avengers. Strange's goal is to simply have them leave Earth and go home, but first Thor needs help finding his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins). That's why he and Loki are working together and in New York.
Odin, as fans of the MCU understand, was usurped during the events of 2013's Thor: The Dark World where Loki again took the throne from him and again tricked Thor into heading back to Earth. It was not explained in that movie or in the Marvel stories since what exactly happened to the All-Father but set photos from Thor: Ragnarok shooting in Australia over the summer revealed Odin appearing as a homeless man on Earth - suggesting Odin was exiled by Loki. Although these scenes were shot in Australia the streets and cars were decorated as New York vehicles.
More recent set photos shared publicly by the production in an effort to implement a little viral marketing for Doctor Strange revealed Thor and Loki together, wearing casual Earthly clothes, holding a card with an important address on it: 177A Bleecker Street.
This is the address of the New York Sanctum Sanctorum, one of three Sanctums that protect Earth from extradimensional threats. It's the home base of Doctor Strange himself now and somehow during the events of next fall's Thor: Ragnarok, Thor and Loki will be instructed to go there.
In the mid-credits sequence Strange agrees to help Thor, which means that despite Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige explaining while promoting Doctor Strange that the character's next appearance would be in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War (which begins shooting in January), it's clear that Benedict Cumberbatch will have some scenes in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok as well.
From Falcon's appearance in last year's Ant-Man, and the introduction of Black Panther and Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War before their own solo outings, Marvel isn't shying away from more directly crossing over their major stories and character arcs as they delve into Phase 3 of the franchise.
Using Strange to bolster the conclusion of the Thor trilogy helps not only that movie connect its story to Earth, but it also helps solidify Strange's role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the long-term as the magic protector of Earth and a major player beyond Phase 3 and into Phase 4. More on that future here!
We also know that like Black Panther, Thor 3 has a major part to play in altering the MCU and setting up the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4.
Share your thoughts and theories in the comments!
[vn_gallery name="Complete Doctor Strange (2016) Gallery" id="807377"]
