Warning: This post contains MAJOR spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The audio commentary for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness reveals some exciting secrets about the film. The latest entry into the MCU gave audiences a chance to become fully acquainted with the multiverse. It also allowed people to see what traveling across dimensions looks like, as well as the potential repercussions of doing so. The movie cemented the beginning of Marvel's Phase 4 and hinted at what kind of multiversal escapades are in the cards for the MCU going forward.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features the title character helping a young America Chavez hone her powers as someone who can travel through universes at will. Throughout the movie, Strange also works to defeat the Scarlet Witch, who is out to capture America so that she can travel to a universe where she can be with her kids.
The following is everything learned from the audio commentary for Doctor Strange 2, narrated by director Sam Raimi, writer Michael Waldron, and producer Richie Palmer.
Marvel Makes A New Studio Logo For Every Movie
According to Raimi, Marvel makes a new logo for every TV or film property it puts out, so it makes sense the logo before this movie features more Doctor Strange than usual. Palmer says they "update with images from some of the more recent Disney+ series and movies and make sure that it's always up-to-date with some of the coolest images from our movies." He continues, "In this one, we did something special. I think it was Sam and Bob Murawski, our editor, and Kevin [Feige] that came together and... put more images of Doctor Strange and Wanda in there than we've ever seen before." This solidifies not only how important each character is to the story but sets up a nice visual for who people are going to be spending time with during the film.
The Strange From The Start Was Originally Going To Be A "Better" Version
During the opening scenes where Doctor Strange and America Chavez are jumping through portals, Strange is portrayed with a ponytail and a full beard, along with a suit that makes him look kind of like the swashbuckling characters Errol Flynn used to play. This was intentional. Errol Flynn was a Golden Age of Hollywood star who appeared in movies like The Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood.
That Strange was also supposed to be a morally exemplary character. The original thought was that "he is an even better version of Strange than Strange himself... until he weakens here, morally, and believes that the ends justify the means." Raimi says to Waldron, "Originally, Michael, you wrote this Strange as the better version of the man. And then, going back, we made him a sinner. And you added a flaw where he makes this terrible choice to save the universe at the expense of this young girl's life." Waldron follows with "Yeah, that was kind of a late in the game decision that we're going to decontextualize Strange and America's relationship throughout the entire movie... and it worked." This provided the background for their connection and paid off when he believed in her at the end of the film.
The Universe From The Opening Is Earth-617
Although never mentioned in the film itself, Raimi solidly informs the listening audience that the universe from the opening is indeed a universe numbered 617, one past the main MCU, which is Earth-616.
There Was Originally A Deeper Moment Between Strange & Christine
Originally, the scene where Christine hopes to introduce Strange to her new husband, who is a huge fan, goes on a bit longer. In the original script, Christine asks Strange if he is happy, to which he replies, emptily, that he's saved over five billion lives and can travel from New York to Tokyo in an instant, "what man wouldn't be happy?" The scene then gives pause, as it's implied that Doctor Strange, though doing well, is not content without Christine. He lies for her sake so that she can move on with her life. A similar sentiment comes across in the final version of the film, but it's a much shorter moment.
Christine's Dress And Jewelry Were Very Expensive
In the commentary, those behind the movie discuss that there were armed guards looking after the jewelry, and everything worn by Rachel McAdams was closely monitored during filming. There was someone on set literally handcuffed to a briefcase.
The New York Street Was Built Elsewhere
Raimi points out that the New York City street that appears right outside the wedding had to be built by production designer Charles Wood. Doctor Strange 2 was filmed in England, and the cast and crew weren't able to go to New York because of the pandemic. Everything in that scene except for the deep background is real.
Doctor Strange Uses The Flames Of Faltine Against Gargantos
The green flames that Strange uses to attack Gargantos are technically, according to Waldron, the Flames of Faltine. They are a green energy that can be harnessed by high-level sorcerers.
Gargantos' Eye Popping Out Was An Homage To Evil Dead 2
In Evil Dead 2, there's a scene where Bruce Campbell jumps onto the head of a Deadite, making its eye pop across the room and directly into someone's mouth. The scene where Gargantos' eye is plucked out is an homage to that moment. Also, as a foreshadowing of the main villain of the movie, they scanned Elizabeth Olsen's eye to be the eye of Gargantos.
The Ribbon Monster Infected Strange With An Alien Virus
The first Doctor Strange seen in the film doesn't just die of his wounds. He is actually infected by an alien virus that ages him rapidly, turning him into a corpse so quickly. This was to have Strange come back later and look more like a zombie at the end of the movie.
The War Drums Were Borrowed From Composer Danny Elfman
When Kamar-Taj is getting ready to be attacked by the Scarlet Witch, there are monks playing the war drums as the army is getting ready to defend their stronghold. Before even scoring the movie, composer Danny Elfman let the production borrow his war drums to really visually sell the music that was happening in that scene.
Wong Originally Had A Love Story
According to Palmer, "We originally had a sub-theme that Michael wrote with the character of Sara ( (Sheila Atim)... Wong's right-hand woman. We had a little bit of a love line between Wong and Sara, but that got diminished, which happens with cuts... so that little bit of a suggested love story was lost."
The Battle At Kamar-Taj Was Originally Much Gorier
The scene was supposed to be a bit more of an epic battle, but it was cut down for the purpose of getting to the second act quicker. It was also meant to be gorier: "It was an amazing bit... in the animatic of Wanda fighting... I think she cut [someone's] head off, then puppeteered his headless body against his comrades. Probably wouldn't have been okay for the PG-13 rating, but that was pretty cool," explains Waldron.
When Strange Attacks Wanda In The Temple, Those Are The Vipers Of Valtorr
When Doctor Strange attacks Wanda in the temple with two snakes, those are the Vipers of Valtorr, which is a spell from the comics that allows the user to attack an enemy using "vicious serpents."
Marvel Easter Eggs Confirmed In Universes Strange & America Go Through
When traveling through the multiverse, America Chavez and Doctor Strange encounter The Living Tribunal, a Stark Industries drone, The Savage Land, and various other universes on their way to Earth-838.
America's Memories Display The Utopian Parallel
In the comics, America Chavez is originally from a place called the Utopian Parallel, which is shown when the audience sees both of her moms with her as a younger child.
Kevin Feige Wanted To Change Mordo And Strange Scene
The close-up shot is done in a The Quick and the Dead fashion, and Feige originally told Raimi that it was too corny. He said, "Please, Kevin, let me have that." Feige replied, "Okay fine, have your corny stuff."
Mordo Was Originally Going To Die A Gruesome Death
Waldron had originally written an early scene where 616 Mordo, having been through many battles since then, tried to steal Scarlet Witch's powers from her, knowing she had been corrupted by the Darkhold. However, she killed him and cut off his head, presenting it to Strange in a later scene. Ultimately, it slowed down the beginning of the movie too much and had to be cut.
Mordo Uses The Sands Of Nisanti To Disarm Strange
According to the comics, if someone is near the Sands of Nisanti, they are stripped of their magical powers. This is what Mordo uses on Strange and America to get them to the 838 glass prison.
Christine Was Brought Back For An Important Reason
Originally not even in the 838 universe, the character of Christine was brought back into the fold to give Strange an "emotional heart" to go back to throughout the film.
The Wasp Was Originally Part Of The Illuminati
Waldron says, "I think originally, the Wasp was... in the Illuminati and the Wasp shrunk down and flew at Wanda, and she just clapped her hands and smushed The Wasp in the first draft."
Reed Richards Teleports Using Doctor Doom's Device
The detail of the teleportation device Richards uses is taken straight from the comics. The audio commentary confirms that it's Doctor Doom's time platform.
Costume Designer Graham Churchyard Studied X-Men: The Animated Series
One cool detail is that the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness costume designer was a hardcore X-Men: The Animated Series fan, and so he found a green suit for Professor X that was the exact shade needed to be accurate. He also found the perfect tie, which everyone was excited about.
The Illuminati Citadel Was Based On The British Museum
Raimi confirms that the Illuminati citadel was based on the British Museum. The bio-chamber in the background of the famous Illuminati death scene wasn't there—it was three different locations stitched together to look like one.
That Is A Xena: Warrior Princess Statue In The Lobby
The statue seen in the Illuminati lobby is in fact modeled after Xena: Warrior Princess. It was Palmer's idea.
A Leg On A Broom Was Used During One Fight Scene
When Strange confronts Mordo after the Illuminati team's death, one of the legs seen hitting the concrete wall really hard was Raimi's idea. He said "Give me a leg on a broom," and the production team made it happen.
The Chase Through The Tunnels Was Originally More Like Willy Wonka
While going over the practical effects in the movie, Waldron, Palmer, and Raimi went through an idea that had the tunnel chase scene filled with concentric circles moving in opposite directions. In the end, they convinced Raimi to put a steady cam on the back of a motorcycle for the scene.
There Was A Version Of Strange Called Melvin Strange
Melvin Strange was to be in the film as a non-powered individual who is a street magician. A version of Strange existed that had an "enlightening, sweet" exchange with the main universe's Strange, but he was traded for the adversarial Sinister Strange that's shown in the incursion universe.
Disney Animation Worked On The Snow White Scene
In one of the final scenes where Scarlet Witch confronts Wanda's family, they are watching an 838 version of Snow White. The producers of the film worked with Disney animators to create an alternate version of Snow White whose clothes are different colors than the ones in Earth-616.
One Scene Showed Sam Raimi How Skilled Elizabeth Olsen Truly Is
In the climactic scene where Scarlet Witch is terrorizing 838 Wanda's home, Raimi wanted one more take from Olsen. When he expressed being worried about asking her, she said, "Sam, as far as acting goes, I am a bottomless well of emotion. Never be afraid to ask me for another take, or to go deeper." Raimi was taken aback and continued filming the scene from there.
The Original Ending Was Much Darker
The original ending had Doctor Strange turning around and revealing he's actually Sinister Strange, with the regular version of Strange trapped in the incursion universe. Though this didn't come to fruition, the main version of Strange does receive a third eye in the final film. Waldron explains that Strange not only used the Darkhold but managed to raise the dead, while also dream walking across universes. He did all of the worst things a person can do with the Darkhold, so of course, he grew a third eye in the end.
There's An Army of Darkness Easter Egg
Wood, Raimi, Campbell, Murawski, and lead storyboard artist Doug Lefler all worked together on Army of Darkness and came back together for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Wood actually had the fork used in Army of Darkness and brought it to set. The fork can be seen on the Pizza Poppa cart in the end credits scene.
