Spider-Man: No Way Home Was Right To Cut Its Doctor Strange 2 Hero Cameo

America Chavez was originally supposed to make her first cameo appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home but was cut from the film early on in a decision that was right for both No Way Home and its successor, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. COVID-19 forced Marvel Studios to reshuffle various Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4 release dates. As a result, America now has her first MCU appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in which she plays much more than a cameo role.

Recently released No Way Home concept art revealed that the original intention was to have America Chavez debut in the MCU's third Spider-Man film – understandably so, given that her character is closely linked with the Multiverse. However, it's this exact link that would have made America Chavez too much of a Deus Ex Machina in Spider-Man: No Way Home. As a character intrinsically tied to the multiverse who can travel around it at will, she would have brought an unnecessary level of power to No Way Home's story, and she could have solved the central problem too handily.

The events of Spider-Man: No Way Home directly caused Doctor Strange 2. Stephen Strange may have been able to prevent the total collapse of the Multiverse in the climax of No Way Home, but the unknown ramifications of meddling with the Multiverse are sure to be the catalyst for the events to come in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. A character like America, then, who understands the Multiverse better than any of the MCU’s heroes so far, could have easily tipped the scales in their favor during the events of No Way Home, which is exactly why it was the right decision not to include her in the film.

America Chavez Would Have Resolved No Way Home’s Conflict Too Easily

Given that Spider-Man: No Way Home has three Peter Parkers, five different villains, and a Matt Murdock cameo, America's presence would have overwhelmed a story that already had a lot going on and ended it too soon. The ease with which America could transport No Way Home's numerous villains back to their respective universes would have completely negated the emotional backbone of the film. Spider-Man: No Way Home's central plot wasn’t about the unraveling of the Multiverse. It was about giving each of the three Peters a conclusion to their emotional journeys and the redemption of villains once thought beyond saving. The arcs the numerous Spider-Man characters went through had no relevance to America and would have made her superfluous to the narrative, doing a disservice to her character.

As such, America’s MCU debut is much better suited to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While the full plot has been kept tightly under wraps, the inclusions of Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange's variants, and Patrick Stewart's Professor X suggest that this film will lead to larger ramifications for the rest of the MCU. The bigger the stakes, the clearer the reason for America’s debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness becomes. This movie is about the unraveling of the Multiverse and the threat that it presents to the Earth-616 timeline. America's presence in the Doctor Strange sequel makes more sense, as she will likely aid Stephen Strange in his understanding of the Multiverse, giving her a clear role in the story.

America Chavez’s Powers And Origin Explained

As befits her debut in the ever-expanding Phase 4, America Chavez is a very high-powered Marvel character. She is from the Utopian Parallel, a dimension outside the time and space of the Multiverse, and she boasts an impressive slate of powers. Alongside flight, superhuman speed, super strength, and invulnerability, she also understands the inner workings of the Multiverse with Hyper-Cosmic Awareness, and she creates star-shaped portals that can transport her throughout the Multiverse.

America Chavez's powers in the Marvel comics come from her childhood exposure to the Demiurge, an omnipotent, sentient creative force that resides in the Utopian Parallel. Having grown up in the presence of this force, America absorbed a healthy dose of its power, which is where her unique abilities come from. Though it is unclear whether she will start in the MCU aware of every ability including her signature star-shaped portals, it is safe to say that America Chavez is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Comics canon and has the potential to shake up the current power hierarchy in the MCU. As such, it makes much more sense for her to fully debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness rather than trying to squeeze into a small appearance into Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Even if America Chavez’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home had been a brief cameo, the impact on the story would have been too great. The entire plot might have needed to change, but Peter Parker’s arc in his third Spider-Man movie is exactly what it needs to be. America’s interference would have prevented his development and stopped him from becoming the Peter audiences know and love: a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Her appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness allows her to become a team player, giving her character a chance to shine without overshadowing others.

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