Who Was At The End Of Doctor Strange 2

One of the biggest surprises in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness comes during the film's mid-credits scene, which introduces a very important character in Doctor Strange’s Marvel Comics history to the MCU. Marvel Studios' Phase 4 projects, such as Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange sequel explored the multiverse, its many dangers, and its variety of characters. After taking a look at the chaos it can unleash in No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness uncovered just a few of the harsh consequences of multiversal travel.

Doctor Strange and America Chavez’s travels across dimensions allowed Marvel Studios to add some surprises to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This included the appearance of Earth-838's Illuminati, formed by Captain Carter, Charles Xavier, Reed Richards, Maria Rambeau's Captain Marvel, a variant of Baron Mordo, and the Inhuman King Black Bolt, but that wasn’t all. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' mid-credits scene introduces a new character, Clea, played by Charlize Theron, a sorceress who arrives to ask Strange for help as his actions triggered a terrifying incursion. Clea is pivotal to Doctor Strange's storylines in Marvel Comics.

Clea's Origins & Powers Explained

In Marvel Comics, Clea is a very powerful sorceress with connections to other-dimensional beings, as she's the daughter of Prince Orini and the Faltine fugitive Umar, Dormammu's sister. After a battle between the siblings, Umar was banished to another realm, so Clea grew up worshiping her uncle, who previously appeared in 2016's Doctor Strange. During an excursion to the Dark Dimension to face Dormammu, Doctor Strange came into contact with Clea, and the pair quickly became allies, and later even husband and wife following Dormammu's defeat and ascension to the throne of the Dark Dimension.

Clea harbors an impressive variety of abilities drawn from her otherworldly nature, including manipulating the forces of magic to different effects. This includes transmutation, creating energy bolts, constructing animated beings, conjuring objects, teleportation, levitation, mind-control, casting illusions, and many more. Thanks to her training with Doctor Strange, Clea possesses a vast knowledge of magical lore and is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant. She's also capable of replicating any spell performed by Strange and has an intense familiarity with Dormammu and his domain of the Dark Dimension, having spent the majority of her life there.

Why Clea Appears At The End Of Doctor Strange 2: What It Sets Up

Doctor-Strange-2-Post-Credits-Clea-Doctor-Strange-Teamup

Clea is one of the most important characters in Doctor Strange’s Marvel Comics history, not only for their romance but also because of her connection to the Dark Dimension. Dormammu and the Dark Dimension made an appearance in Doctor Strange, and with Dormammu being the powerful entity he is — and since he relented to Strange’s demand — that surely won’t be his last appearance in the MCU. Clea’s introduction in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness serves as a link between the first movie and the MCU's current storylines, while also marking a new chapter in his personal life now that Christine Palmer has moved on.

As well as debuting Clea, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also explained the concept of incursions, events that occur when realities collide with each other, destroying one or both in the process. Clea's appearance came with a warning that Doctor Strange had caused an incursion, though it's unclear whether this was due to his actions in Multiverse of Madness or a previous MCU project. The glimpse of the Dark Dimension and Clea's warning set up not only a powerful alliance for Strange but also the potential return of Dormammu - fitting for the MCU's Multiverse Saga, as Earth will be facing entities more dangerous than Thanos himself.

What Clea Said Is More Important Than Who She Is

Strange and Clea in the mid-credits scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness with 3rd eye

Clea is important not just because of her Marvel Comics history but also because her one line in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness foreshadows the entire MCU's future. Clea told Doctor Strange, "You caused an incursion, and we're gonna fix it... unless you're afraid," to which Strange replied, "Not in the least." This isn't just another opportunity for Strange to display his signature bravado, as Clea essentially reveals that there is a definite multiversal incursion in his future. Clea's warning underlines the overarching narrative of the MCU's Multiverse Saga and is the start of Marvel Studios interweaving their projects in Phase 4 and beyond.

It's also worth noting how Doctor Strange wasn't surprised by Clea's arrival, nor her words, during the mid-credits scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While this is a result of Doctor Strange's recent and firsthand knowledge about incursions, the way he seems to have expected Clea could be because of his new third eye, which in Marvel Comics allows him to see the future. With both Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars on the horizon, the rest of the MCU's roster will become all too familiar with multiversal incursions soon enough.

MCU Projects Clea Can Appear In Next

clea in doctor strange post credits scene

Although Marvel Studios hasn't yet provided confirmation of a sequel's development, Doctor Strange 3 would perhaps be the most likely place for Clea to show up in the MCU's future. Should the sequel come before The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, this would provide Doctor Strange with more information about incursions ahead of the Multiverse Saga's ending and also allow Clea to develop her character further before playing a role in Phase 6's crossover films. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars are expected to feature most (if not all) of Marvel Studios' characters, so Clea will surely have a part to play in these projects.

Benedict Cumberbatch was originally planned to appear as Doctor Strange in Phase 4's WandaVision, so perhaps Strange and Clea could make a cameo appearance in the WandaVision spinoff Agatha: Coven of Chaos. This would see them interact with some new major sorcerers and witches in the MCU, including Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness herself. Strange and Clea could also appear in Phase 5's upcoming Blade project, as it would make sense for them to be crucial to the MCU's supernatural storylines. Following her debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Clea is sure to have a bright future in the MCU.