After over a year of anticipation, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has finally been released in theaters. The film finds Strange in his most personal conflict yet as he tries to protect a teenager, America Chavez, from the powerful Scarlet Witch. In doing so, he risks the fabric of the multiverse as it slowly tears apart at its seams.
Suffice it to say, there's a lot for this second solo outing of Doctor Strange to live up to. The character has made recent appearances in some of Marvel's most impactful films, such as Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: No Way Home. And impactful it is, as these moments in the film will certainly shift the course of the MCU.
10 Doctor Strange's Next Adventure
The biggest clue to the future of the MCU comes in the credits scenes of their movies and TV shows. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features a pretty unexpected twist in its mid-credits scene. It follows the film's ending, where Strange's use of the Darkhold has seen him grow not only stronger, but a third eye.
In New York City, Strange is surprised by the unexpected arrival of Clea, played by Charlize Theron. As she takes Strange with her into the Dark Dimension, one can assume Strange will be reuniting with his old nemesis Dormammu. Of course, Strange and Clea may also become allies, as they are in the comics.
9 The Future Of Wanda Maximoff
Unfortunately, the credits scenes of Multiverse of Madness give no clues as to the fate of Wanda Maximoff. Near the film's climax, Wanda sacrifices herself to destroy the Darkhold in every dimension. She's last seen as the castle at the top of Mount Wundagore collapses on her, giving her multi-film arc a tragic ending.
However, it's hard to say this will be the last time fans see Elizabeth Olsen in her iconic role. The acclaim she's received for her performance should cue Marvel in on the fact that she's certainly due more attention. With the existence of multiverses, perhaps a variant of Wanda will make her way back into the conflicts of the MCU.
8 America Chavez In Training
The film also introduces audiences to America Chavez, a teenage girl who can travel between multiverses, though she struggles to control her powers. America is the source of the film's conflict, as Strange seeks to protect her power while Wanda wants it for herself. By the end, audiences may grow to love the distrustful teen.
It's not known when or if Chavez will return to the MCU, but her last appearance in the film suggests the former. She's last seen starting her training at Kamar-Taj under the guidance of Wong. Her and Strange also part on friendly terms, meaning she might be someone he calls upon in the future to deal with any multiversal threats.
7 Where Is Earth-616's Baron Mordo?
A major plot point in the film occurs when Strange and Chavez encounter a variant of Baron Mordo from Earth-838, named Karl Mordo. While he initially seems hospitable, he reveals himself to be a member of the Illuminati as he captures Strange and Chavez. It seems even Mordos from other universes still despise Strange.
However, it's never explicitly stated what happened to the original Baron Mordo who appeared in 2016's Doctor Strange. At the end of that film, Mordo abandons the life of sorcery after Strange defies the laws of nature to defeat Dormammu. Perhaps in the next Doctor Strange film, the original Mordo will finally show up for revenge.
6 The Existence Of The Illuminati
One of the highlights of this film for MCU fans is the introduction of the Illuminati. In the comics, the Illuminati are a secret group of highly-intelligent and powerful superheroes. The film pays homage to the comics by including some of the organization's most iconic members, such as Black Bolt and Professor X.
As far as audiences know, the Illuminati is not active in Strange's homeworld of Earth-616. Perhaps, after learning about how his variant created the organization, Strange will find it useful to create a similarly-powerful Illuminati in his world. The only question would be which fan-favorite characters will get to be a part of it.
5 Reed Richard And The Fantastic Four
It's been known for a while that the Fantastic Four are on their way to the MCU with their own movie. However, most fans probably didn't expect the team's leader, Reed Richards, to make his debut as early as this film. The character is played here by fan-favorite casting choice John Krasinski, known for The Office and A Quiet Place.
In Multiverse of Madness, this Reed Richards variant is a member of the Illuminati, though he appears in his iconic Fantastic Four uniform. It's safe to say that Krasinski will probably reprise the role in the upcoming Fantastic Four film alongside the rest of the team. All fans ask is that Krasinski's wife, Emily Blunt, play Sue Storm.
4 Patrick Stewart Returns To Comic Book Movies
2017's Logan truly seemed like the end of the road for Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier. That's why it's so surprising that he reprises his role as Professor X, a member of the Illuminati and leader of the X-Men. This premature debut of the character will certainly excite fans who are anxious to see the Mutants join the MCU.
Furthermore, Stewart gets to take on a brand-new version of Xavier. The character even gets to ride in his comic-accurate wheelchair, as opposed to the X-Men films' more naturalistic one. Hopefully, the rest of the Mutants in the MCU will stay true to their comic roots, and fans get to see Wolverine don his iconic yellow outfit.
3 The Inhumans Make A Surprising Return
The Inhumans were planned to be introduced to the MCU in Phase 3, though those plans never came to fruition. The superpowered royal family ended up starring in an ABC series, though it was swiftly canceled after disappointing reviews. However, their return to the MCU may be on the horizon after Multiverse of Madness.
In the Illuminati scene, Anson Mount reprises his role as the silent-but-deadly King Black Bolt. The character, due to his lack of speech, says very little in the movie, but his presence is...mindblowing, to say the least. Hopefully, when the Inhumans make a return to the MCU, they're done with justice to their comic book origins.
2 Unanswered Questions From WandaVision
The Disney+ series WandaVision is very important to the story of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film focuses heavily on the relationship between Wanda and her children Billy and Tommy, with them being her main motivation to steal America Chavez's powers. However, the series still has a few untied knots.
For one, Vision does not appear in this film in any capacity. The final episode of WandaVision saw White Vision disappearing after learning his entire history. Plus, it'd be heartbreaking if Wanda and Vision truly never get to reunite. Also, Agatha Harkness is apparently still in Westview, awaiting to be awoken by Wanda herself.
1 More What If...? Crossovers
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness not only finds its titular hero interacting with characters from other Marvel teams but also from the animated What If...? series. Hayley Atwell's Captain Carter appears as a member of the Illuminati. In What If...?, Peggy starred in the very first episode as she became a super-soldier.
Captain Carter isn't the only character to transition from animated to live-action. Strange Supreme from the Doctor Strange-inspired episode of What If...? also appears during the film's third act. Hopefully, in future Marvel films and TV shows, more variant characters like these will make the transition to live-action.