Sam Raimi Explains Doctor Strange 2's Extensive Reshoots

Sam Raimi details what exactly the reshoots on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were about. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a monumental event as it is Raimi's first film in nine years, it is the kick-off of the summer movie season, and is set to be a game-changer in the MCU with multiple cameos rumored. Anticipation is high as the film is already on track to beat The Batman for the biggest opening weekend of 2022.

However, despite the anticipation for the sequel, there is a certain amount of trepidation. In November 2021, it was reported that Doctor Strange 2 was undergoing significant reshoots. With the news coming so close after the announcement that the film's release date was being pushed back from March 25, 2022, to May 6, 2022, combined with the fact that original director Scott Derrickson dropped out due to creative differences with Marvel, many had concerns about the status of the film.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Raimi went into detail about the film's reshoots. He said the biggest thing the reshoots helped accomplish was to clarify certain elements that audiences found confusing in test screenings, or get rid of extraneous scenes that over-explained a concept. He also said part of it was recognizing what audiences really liked in the test screening and maybe giving them more of that element or character. Raimi said:

"There’s a lot of points where the audience says, “I don’t understand this. I don’t understand this concept.” Or, “I’m aware of this concept, and then you explained it again in the third act.” “Oh, you’re right. The audience knows that already.” Or: “They had to know that in order to accept this next story beat.” A lot of it is test screenings, learning what is confusing on a complex picture like this, or learning things that have overstayed their welcome. Recognizing when something is too slow, and even though it’s a proper beat to put in, the audience doesn’t need it. They can figure that out on their own, so what seemed like a logical step now becomes, in the editing process, “Hmm. That’s slowing us down. Let’s skip it and let the audience make the leap themselves.” But it’s also about recognizing what they really like, and sometimes expanding those things that they’re really reacting well to. It’s recognizing what’s original about the picture, and when you’ve got the opportunity to, expanding upon that."

Part of this makes a certain amount of sense. While not originally planned this way, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is coming out after audiences have not only seen Spider-Man: No Way Home in theaters but have likely watched Loki and What If...? on Disney+, so the concept of the multiverse may already be well laid out. That fluid nature of the Marvel release schedule may also explain why Bruce Campbell said Marvel mandated reshoots as some scenes may have been irrelevant or need to be added with how things in the MCU were moving along since they originally filmed.

In recent years, the idea of reshoots on a big-budget film tends to send certain audience members into panic mode after the association of projects like Fantastic 4, Suicide Squad, and Justice League negatively impacted their films. Yet, reshoots are just a natural part of the filmmaking process, so much so that Marvel Studios factors that into their films production schedule as they know when they edit certain things will need to change. One of the MCU's most memorable moments, Tony Stark saying "I am Iron Man" before snapping the Infinity Gauntlet in Avengers: Endgame, was a pick-up shot after production wrapped, so the reshoots on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are not necessarily a warning sign as it is just standard practice.

Next: Doctor Strange 2 Rewatch Guide: Essential MCU Movies & Shows To Watch

Source: Rolling Stone