Marvel just teased a major connection between Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with it being hinted that the fourth Thor film almost featured a major Doctor Strange character. Although the two MCU films came out only months apart, the connections between them are very slim, with both movies exploring completely different corners of the Marvel Universe. However, some concept art suggests that Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness originally had a bit of overlap.While Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness featured Strange and America Chavez exploring the titular multiverse, Thor: Love and Thunder was a more cosmic adventure, with its band of comedic characters exploring different godly realms. Throughout their journey to stop Gorr the God Butcher and find Eternity, Thor and his friends come across a wide variety of weird and wacky characters, including giant screaming goats and a dumpling god. However, concept art for Thor: Love and Thunder shows that the crew was initially meant to meet a much bigger threat - one that showed up in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Related: Why Thor: Love & Thunder's Reviews Are So Divided

Gargantos in Doctor Strange 2 Bus Scene

Shuma-Gorath (named Gargantos in the MCU) is a popular Marvel Comics villain that made his movie debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Although the beast was swiftly killed by the sorcerers, it seems as if Gargantos was originally meant to have one more appearance in the MCU. Concept art for Thor: Love and Thunder shows The Mighty Thor facing off against several cosmic threats, including Galactus and Fin Fang Foom. One of these pieces shows Jane Foster fighting Gargantos, the very tentacled beast that was killed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

It isn't known exactly why Marvel wanted Gargantos to reappear in Thor: Love and Thunder at one point, but it seems that the character may have originally been planned to be an overarching villain. This isn't surprising, as Shuma-Gorath is one of the most powerful villains in Marvel Comics. Shuma-Gorath is an extra-dimensional being that previously ruled over prehistoric Earth, with it requiring leagues of heroes to take down the character. Although Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness kills Gargantos off, the character traditionally required the combined might of many heroes, possibly explaining how he could have lived to appear in Thor: Love and Thunder.

The MCU's Phase 4 Was Oddly Obsessed With Gargantos

Captain Britain vs Shuma Gorath in What If.

Even though Gargantos' appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was brief, the MCU's Phase 4 was obsessed with it. Shuma-Gorath appears in What If...? twice, in episodes 1 and 4. Because of his multiple appearances throughout the series, many believed that he would end up being the main villain of the show - or even Phase 4. In the comics, Shuma-Gorath is called the Lord of Chaos. The WandaVision finale featured Chaos magic, which seemed like another Gargantos tease. Gargantos even seemed to be the big reveal of one of the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer.

For all this build-up in the MCU's Phase 4, it's weird that Gargantos' only appearance was in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The MCU's version of Shuma-Gorath wasn't nearly as powerful as the Marvel Comics iteration, making his Doctor Strange 2 appearance seem more like a reference than an actual appearance. While it would've been nice to see Gargantos in Thor: Love and Thunder, as the concept art teased, it never came to be.

Next: Thor: Love & Thunder Wasted Multiverse Of Madness’ Best Potential Character

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