The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Marvel Studios' highly-anticipated Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently undergoing another "significant" round of filming in Los Angeles in what is being described as "additional photography" and "reshoots."
Why is it being labeled significant? Well, it's been confirmed that leading man Benedict Cumberbatch and a few select cast members will be involved with at least six weeks of shooting, possibly more, and will be working six days a week until the end of the calendar year.
Spider-Man trilogy director Sam Raimi remains at the helm of the massive Multiversal adventure, with screenwriter Michael Waldron also involved, scripting new material.
The crew recently completed additional photography on both Tom Holland's Spider-Man: No Way Home and Oscar Isaac's Moon Knight, so they're already quite familiar with how Marvel Studios likes to work, which should make the next month-and-a-half a little less daunting.
There are some conflicting reports about the actual severity of the reshoots, with some insiders suggesting that these were always scheduled in advance - “Even while in the middle of production, Marvel is scheduling you for more shooting” - and that they're not even the biggest round of reshoots the studio has ever pulled off: “We’ve had bigger reshoots on other MCU movies.”
However, others are more skeptical about Marvel Studios' claims: “They’re here until the end of the year. That’s like a whole other movie."
On the bright side, the reshoots don't seem to be because of anything story-related. About two weeks will actually be spent finishing portions that weren't completed during principal photography earlier this year due to actor availability issues, while the remaining portion will be to catch up on everything they had to delay when the film was forced into a lengthy production shutdown in the U.K. due to COVID-related complications.
The cast and crew remain optimistic, and it's believed that despite everything, it'll still be comfortably ready for its May release date.
Plot details are under wraps, but in addition to Cumberbatch reprising his role as the Sorcerer Supreme, the supporting cast will consist of Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong as Wong, Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo, and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to hit theaters on May 6, 2022.