Following the conclusion of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, America Chavez has become the latest student at Kamar-Taj. With Sorcerer Supreme Wong in charge and helped by Doctor Strange, she will learn to hone her magical and multiversal abilities. However, she isn’t the only character currently in the MCU who could use this training, and there are plenty more waiting in their wings from the comics.
With many hoping that Wong will get his own solo project, the MCU might expand his role and see how he helps run Strange Academy (where Doctor Strange established a Hogwarts-like school at Kamar-Taj). This would make for a fun and unexpected show or special perfect for Disney+, and it could certainly introduce a variety of characters who have yet to join the successful cinematic franchise.
Ned Leeds
Many fans were surprised to learn that Peter Parker’s “guy in the chair,” Ned Leeds, is capable of magic. It has since been revealed that his role in uniting the Spider-Men was initially planned for America Chavez when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was going to be set before Spider-Man: No Way Home. Ned ended up being the one to do it, opening up the possibility for him to train at Kamar-Taj.
Of course, Peter Parker was erased from everyone’s collective memory, which likely also erased Ned’s realization of his magical abilities. However, if he finds a way to re-access them, he’d be a welcome sight for many fans in a project like this. Spider-Man’s future in the MCU is always in flux, but many aren’t ready to say goodbye to his supporting characters, including Ned.
Nico Minoru
The reintroduction of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio into the MCU has reignited fans’ hopes for other characters from the Marvel Television era to get the same opportunity. Specifically, many fans have been theorizing how characters from Runaways could be reincorporated. If this does happen, then Nico Minoru, played by Lyrica Okano, should be included as a student of Kamar-Taj.
Using her Staff of One, she can accomplish some incredible and dark feats. Interestingly, Runaways also defined her powers as being linked to the Dark Dimension, and she’s also interacted with the Darkhold. While she is particularly experienced, Nico would still have plenty she could learn under Wong and Doctor Strange.
Wiccan (Billy Maximoff)
Something fans expected from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was for the film to bring back Billy and Tommy from WandaVision. Technically, it did, but people will have to wait a while longer to see them as the young heroes they are in the comics. When they do return – hopefully in the much-desired Scarlet Witch film – Billy (aka Wiccan) would certainly be a welcomed sight as part of Strange Academy.
Billy already demonstrated some of his talents in WandaVision, helping to stop bullets aimed at him and his brother. He is capable of far more. Like his mother, he can use chaos magic and with limits, warp reality. Importantly, he is a prominent gay hero, dating and eventually marrying his Young Avengers teammate, Hulkling – a storyline which would mean a great deal to many viewers to see in the MCU.
Doyle Dormammu
Strange Academy is a relatively new comics run, only first starting in 2020, but that needn’t restrict it or any of the original characters created for it from entering the MCU. Of the many interesting students at Strange Academy, one already has a significant link to the MCU. Doyle Dormammu is the son of Dormammu – the main antagonist of Doctor Strange – and the cousin of Clea (played by Charlize Theron) in a post-credits scene for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Like his father, Doyle is inherently powerful and capable of some dangerous magic. He'd make for an interesting addition to a class roster with America Chavez, Rintrah, and Wiccan. Frankly, if this project does ever occur, it would be quite nice to see all the students from the comics, such as the demon, Dessy; the frost giant, Gus; and zombie, Zoe Laveau.
Magik (Illyana Rasputina)
When Ms. Marvel revealed that Kamala Khan is, in fact, a mutant in the MCU as opposed to an inhuman like in the comics, it finally set the stage for the X-Men to arrive. One character who should be included in consideration for the initial team or at least an early introduction is Illyana Rasputina (aka Magik). She is, of course, best recognized now for being played by Anya Taylor-Joy in The New Mutants.
Her abilities are linked to the demonic dimension known as Limbo and using that dimension’s power, she can cast dark magic and create her Soulsword. In the comics, she does begin to train under Doctor Strange, while also serving as a member of the X-Men, and with the expansion of the MCU’s dimensions and Multiverse, hopefully, she can get the same treatment when she does arrive in live-action again.
Kid Loki
It’s been a trend throughout Phase Four for the various movies and tv shows to introduce members of the Young Avengers. Naturally, Loki introduced Kid Loki, who was pruned by the TVA and sent to the Void to be destroyed by Alioth for killing his brother, Thor. He teamed up with other variants, Classic Loki and Alligator Loki, to survive, even becoming their ruler in this space at the end of time.
Season 2 of Loki could see him crossover into the Earth-616 universe and then the Young Avenger could finally form for real. If he’s really trying to make up for his misdeeds and avert his turn to villain, Kid Loki might want to seek the guidance of Wong and/or Doctor Strange. They’d also help him hone and grasp the full range of his skills.
Zelma Stanton
Zelma Stanton is a minor character from the comics, a young girl who goes on to become the librarian at Strange Academy. However, in the MCU, she could be developed further into something quite compelling. Her introduction is linked with strange creatures called Mind Maggots, parasites that live off the guilt and shame secrets hold.
She was plagued by Mind Maggots and only revealing her deepest and darkest secrets saved her. That is some textbook character development perfect for a show like this. Alternatively, she could just be introduced as Kamar-Taj’s librarian, taking over for Wong when he became Sorcerer Supreme.
Mordred
The MCU is set to explore more aspects supernatural in Marvel Comics soon. Next up is the untitled Halloween Special and then Blade. Given his interaction with Blade during one of the Eternals post-credits scenes, this exploration will likely involve Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman. He might even get his own film or Disney+ show, which could open the door to some medieval characters like Merlin and/or Mordred.
As in the Arthurian legends, Mordred was responsible for killing King Arthur, but, after death, he returned to the modern world, serving as an antagonist alongside Morgan le Fay – played by Elizabeth Hurley in Runaways. He would be an unexpected and extremely unlikely choice to train at Kamar-Taj, but it could lead to some surprisingly interesting storylines.
Jennifer Kale
With the likes of Doctor Strange, Moon Knight, Black Knight, and Blade already in the MCU, many fans are hoping other prominent members of the Midnight Sons follow suit soon (especially if it leads to a team-up movie). Another member of that team is Jennifer Kale. She was initially introduced as a supporting character to Man-Thing – a fellow underrated hero deserving of some attention in the MCU – but she’s developed to be a hero of her own right.
Jennifer could definitely come into play as a student – or at least faculty member – for a Strange Academy series, helping her learn her particular branch of sorcery. She also has access to a special book called the tome Zhered-Na, comparable to the Dakrhold and Book of Vishanti from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Pixie (Megan Gwynn)
As her codename implies, Megan Gwynn's (aka Pixie) mutant abilities manifested in her looking like a fairy, wings and all. She eventually develops some magical powers under the tutelage of fellow X-Men, Magik – who also helps her create a Souldagger (similar to her Soulsword). Her natural powers also include the creation of hallucinogenic dust.
In the comics, Pixie does spend some time as a student of Doctor Strange’s so that could happen in the MCU too. She was only introduced in 2004, so there are likely many other X-Men in line in front of her, but incorporating her into a Strange Academy project as a student might help her skip that line.