Set for release on May 6th, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is anticipated to bring about some big changes to the MCU, showing the repercussions of Stephen's choices in Spider-Man: No Way Home, as well as following on from the stories of several Disney+ shows, including WandaVision and Loki.
Though the teaser trailer has now been released, which shows the confirmed new and returning characters, a lot of the movie's finer details are still shrouded in mystery, including the extent of the cast list. Given the information currently available, though, speculation is rife about who could make a surprise appearance.
Confirmed To Appear
Stephen Strange
It is, of course, no surprise that the movie's titular character, Doctor Stephen Strange, will be back in this sequel to his first MCU outing. What's of more interest, though, is that Strange's actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, will also be appearing as multiple alternate versions of the character.
Doctor Strange has already been seen making contact with a parallel version of himself in the Disney+ animated series, What If..? Here, he's the power-hungry Strange Supreme in a story that focuses on maintaining the harmony of reality, which seems of particular relevance to the upcoming movie. It appears, then, that a version of Strange Supreme may make his live-action debut.
Wanda Maximoff
Arguably the most powerful MCU character of 2021, Wanda Maximoff fully came into her powers during the events of WandaVision, and will undoubtedly be tasked with managing her reality-warping capabilities as she joins Doctor Strange on his quest.
The losses she's suffered throughout her onscreen character arc are sure to inform her decisions in this latest appearance, though they could also act as a source of temptation for the Scarlet Witch if she comes face to face with a chance to regain all that's been taken from her when confronted with the multiverse's possibilities.
Wong
As Doctor Strange's mentor and friend, Wong has been privy to the choices that Strange made as he developed his powers, but even after advising Stephen against his course of action in Spider-Man: No Way Home, he'll find himself dealing with the fallout of Stephen's decisions.
Wong's vast knowledge of magic is sure to be crucial for his fellow heroes in Multiverse of Madness, though once confronted with threats beyond their imagining, he may find himself digging deeper into the history of the Mystic Arts than ever before to find new answers.
America Chavez
Making her long-awaited MCU debut in this movie, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) is a teen hero who, in the comics, heralds from a place known as the Utopian Parallel. With immense strength, the power of flight, and the ability to punch open - and travel through - holes in reality, her skillset is perfectly suited for aiding Strange, Wanda, and Wong's quest.
America's appearance also adds to the rumor that the MCU is building towards a future Young Avengers project, given her prominence within that team in the comic book world, whilst adding some much-needed representation to the MCU as both a Latina and lesbian character.
Christine Palmer
Former co-worker and girlfriend to Doctor Strange, surgeon Christine Palmer will return to the big screen after making an important appearance that heralded one of the most shocking reveals about the MCU in What If..?, establishing that in the multiverse there are absolute points in time that even reality-bending magic cannot alter.
Given her long-lasting connection to Strange, Christine's appearance in this movie is sure to act as a reminder of the life that Strange had before it was forever altered by magic, whilst also giving the character more time to develop and hopefully granting her a storyline of her own.
Hoping Will Appear
Loki
As the events of Loki season 1 have had such an effect on the future of the MCU in establishing the multiverse, it seems likely that Loki could appear in the movies once more, particularly given that there are so many variants of the character with intriguing storylines to be explored.
The new 'main' version of the MCU character could take on a new name in order to differentiate himself from the original version of Loki, and given where the Loki show left off, he has plenty of motivation to be traveling throughout realities. Assisting Strange and his allies could be a good place to start looking for answers.
White Vision
After being given his memories by Wanda's recreated Vision, the White Vision was last seen flying away from Westview in apparent search of answers, or else to process both the information and freedom he'd at last been granted.
In gaining the memories of his connection to Wanda, it would seem natural for the White Vision to be aware of Wanda's whereabouts, so that he could reconnect with her if and when he felt able to. The pair's relationship has already fuelled many of their respective decisions, so White Vision assisting Wanda in her dealings with Strange, even if from afar, would be in keeping with the character.
Billy & Tommy Maximoff
Though Billy and Tommy Maximoff were creations of Wanda's in the Westview reality that she established, it is entirely possible that versions of the twins exist elsewhere in the multiverse. The duo's reappearance would have a massive impact on Wanda, whilst also restoring two highly-powered individuals to the MCU for future stories.
After he's grown up, Billy's powers in the comics as the hero Wiccan have similarities to Wanda's own, including immense reality-warping capabilities that would fit right into the Doctor Strange story. Additionally, the twins' comic book counterparts are friends and teammates of America Chavez, and they could be reintroduced to the MCU via her.
Kate Bishop
The question of where Kate Bishop might appear next in the MCU has many possible answers, but it could be sooner rather than later if the archer joins the Doctor Strange cast, to act as a more grounded hero amongst the chaos of those with more fantastical gifts.
Though Kate is not the most likely candidate given the premise of this movie, her comic book history as the best friend of America Chavez adds some validity to the idea, even if she were to appear in a credits scene capacity. In any case, now that the pair are both a part of the MCU, a meeting between them grows more and more likely.
He Who Remains / Kang The Conqueror
The variant of Kang The Conqueror introduced in Loki's final episode, known as He Who Remains, quickly proved how much of an influence incarnations of the character are sure to have on the multiverse, and seeing another version of him in this movie would further establish his far-reaching presence.
Whilst Kang The Conqueror is already set to appear in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, bringing him into the story earlier would show the character's dedication to manipulate and destroy the timeline, particularly in a movie where the multiverse will be so prevalent.