DOCTOR STRANGE Writer On The "Creative Differences" That Led To Scott Derrickson Departing The Sequel

DOCTOR STRANGE Writer On The "Creative Differences" That Led To Scott Derrickson Departing The Sequel

Scott Derrickson parted ways with Marvel after "creative differences" before production got underway on In The Multiverse of Madness, and co-writer C. Robert Cargill has now elaborated on the reason why...

By MarkCassidy - May 25, 2021 06:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Doctor Strange
Source: Cinemablend

It was announced early last year that Scott Derrickson would no longer helm Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness after parting ways with Marvel Studios over "creative differences," and we found out shortly after that none other than Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, the original Spider-Man trilogy) would step in to replace him.

Derrickson has never fully elaborated on the specifics of his departure from the sequel, but his co-writer on the first film, C. Robert Cargill, has now shared some new details on what led to the filmmaker deciding to step away.

It seems those creative differences were legit, as "Scott wanted to do one movie, and Marvel wanted to do another movie," but it sounds like Derrickson might have considered staying on if it weren't for another project he really wanted to work with Cargill on, The Black Phone.

"It came down to Scott, and Scott’s like, ‘Well, I can make this movie that I’m compromising what I wanted to do on, or I could make The Black Phone,’ and he goes, ‘You know, I want to make a movie with Cargill. I’m gonna go make The Black Phone.’ It was, as he said publicly, it was a hard choice to leave Strange behind; but it made it easier that he had a movie that he was looking forward to. And then the experience was just so great that we’re just are so proud and happy with what we made."

We know Derrickson wanted to add more horror elements this time around, and it's thought that Kevin Feige and co. may have balked at the thought of upping the scare factor in a PG-13 film. That's pure speculation, of course, but it's certainly one possible reason for the split.

Plot details for Doctor Strange 2 are still under wraps, but the title obviously suggests that the alternate reality-spanning Multiverse will play a big part. Benedict Cumberbatch will return as the Master of the Mystic Arts, and he'll be joined by Benedict Wong as Wong, Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo. New additions include Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez.

Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness is set to hit theaters on March 25, 2022.

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Menks123
Menks123 - 5/25/2021, 6:44 PM
I'm a big fan of both of these guys and their take/passion for the character.

I really hope we see them come back into the fold in some way down the road. Good for Derrickson if he wasn't feeling it and move to a passion project (that I am really excited for).
DenimChicken
DenimChicken - 5/25/2021, 6:51 PM
This might be a dumb question, but do we actually know the problem was that he wanted it to be scarier and marvel wasn’t cool with it, or was it just all speculation? I don’t remember anything definitive coming out about that but I may have missed it.
LSHF
LSHF - 5/25/2021, 6:56 PM
@DenimChicken - I remember reading something about that. Scott had stated it was going to be a horror film, and later Kevin denied that.
Saga
Saga - 5/25/2021, 6:54 PM
Who cares we got Raimi instead!! 😍😍😍😍😍
LSHF
LSHF - 5/25/2021, 6:59 PM
Also, Scott posted something about his concern about the deadline for the film. Something about not having enough time that he wanted. The post was, I believe, removed. I remember thinking it was strange to complain about this publicly, instead of just privately to Kevin.

But, sure, "creative differences". Now, I'm not saying it wasn't creative differences, but that was NOT the only issue.
heyy1
heyy1 - 5/26/2021, 12:53 AM
@LSHF - funny how when Raime joined covid forced marvel to delay the movie more. And now Raime has more time to work the film
LSHF
LSHF - 5/26/2021, 4:56 AM
@heyy1 - It's great. Since Marvel Studios likes to continue improving their films up until almost the last minute, any extended time can be a good thing.
MUTO123
MUTO123 - 5/25/2021, 7:01 PM
Probably for the best. Raimi coming back to the superhero world is more than welcome and Derrickson & Cargill seem really happy with what they're doing now.
MUTO123
MUTO123 - 5/25/2021, 7:04 PM
BTW, if you aren't listening to it already, check out the Junkfood Cinema podcast. It's an awesome podcast that he co-hosts with a guy named Brian Salisbury (great guy) where they talk about some cool-ass movies (some well-known, a lot either forgotten or unheard of), and across the summer they're gonna be reviewing every Fast & Furious movie (they're calling it One Furious Summer). Check it out!

VicSage
VicSage - 5/25/2021, 7:04 PM
Fans like to latch on to what they consider controversial. Derrickson leaving Doctor Strange 2 was likely multifaceted.

Leaving because Feige didn't want him to make it scary sounds so.... lame.

I imagine Derrickson could find a way to work within the confines of what Feige deemed appropriately scary. Derrickson is, in my opinion, a talented director and capable of doing so.

I imagine the bigger issue was that he wanted to make a Doctor Strange sequel and NOT a film featuring Wanda following the events of WandaVision, or shoehorning events which may lead into Spiderman Far From Home, or featuring America Chavez, etc. Feige clearly wants Doctor Strange 2 to be the next big setup for the MCU, and I imagine Derrickson just wanted to make a simple scary Doctor Strange 2. Not what Doctor Strange 2 is currently.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 5/25/2021, 7:10 PM
America Chavez feels like a misstep to me, even if she shows up prior it's still a character whose abilities will pretty much rush the multiverse concept. You cannot really slowly explore the multiverse when you've got a character capable of easily travelling between them.

Where do you even go once you've introduced a character who can travel freely between the multiverses? What do you do with that character other than nerf them to strand them in a specific part of the multiverse so you can do a story.
heyy1
heyy1 - 5/26/2021, 12:55 AM
@VicSage - I agee, Dr.strange 2 sounds more like an MCU multiverse movie than a traditional doctor strange sequel.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 5/25/2021, 7:06 PM
From reports here the movie sounds messy:

Generally the vibe seems to be that Doctor Strange ends up looking for Wanda to help protect her from Mordo, he ends up needing Wanda's help to track down America Chavez who has multiverse powers.

Meanwhile we seem to have Rintrah seemingly showing up to warn Doctor Strange of a multiverse threat in the form of Shuma Gorath (I guess Marvel heard Starro was in The Suicide Squad and wanted to mirror that as opposed to including Nightmare)

To top it off we have Clea involved in this somehow, I'm guessing as either a rival or to set-up Doctor Strange 3 and this film might include one or more Spider-men to tie into Spider-man: No Way Home. I'm guessing that Phase 4 is going to build to the idea of Earth being destroyed and them either moving to a different part of the multiverse OR resetting things using Kang in Ant-Man 3.

I can see why Scott Derrickson dropped it, I'd have much preferred a more person character study of Doctor Strange dealing with the death of his sister and facing off against Nightmare.
DenimChicken
DenimChicken - 5/25/2021, 7:21 PM
@Scarilian - I think you might be right on a lot of this but I hope not. Haha. My least favorite marvel movies are the ones that spend too much time setting up other stuff. I don’t want to watch a two hour trailer. I want to see more marvel movies that stand on their own.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 5/25/2021, 7:06 PM
Who is Cargill? I think you mean Carlyle.
EnergyVamp
EnergyVamp - 5/25/2021, 10:49 PM
@MrDandy - A true spillio
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 5/25/2021, 7:17 PM
Just glad Raimi is onboard.
IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 5/25/2021, 7:22 PM
Like most creative differences...

One side wanted it good.
The other side wanted it not as good.

Under stable.

In truth though, they had been kicking a can called Scott Derrickson down the street from the beginning.

First they hired a horror director because AntMan was going to be a heist movie, Guardians a cosmic film, strange a Horror Film

Then when strange wasn’t...it was promised the sequel woudl be more in derricksons wheel house

Then when it wasn’t he’s suddenly gone.

Pretty obvious they never really wanted a Horror Doctor Strange...just like they didn’t want a Demon in the Bottle IRON MAN 2
ThorArms
ThorArms - 5/25/2021, 7:36 PM
I don’t think it had to do with the horror aspects. They know Raimi’s style and horror tendencies. And it sounds like Raimi will get to do what he wants.

I think of Feige had a problem with horror elements he wouldn’t have hired Raimi period
SnideCut
SnideCut - 5/25/2021, 7:49 PM
I mean, it doesn't make sense that the greater horror emphasis is why Derrickson was let go though. Why do that and then hire someone like Raimi, who's known for his horror work? ( Yes, he's most famous for his Spider-Man movies but he has a strong horror background )
WeaponXCII
WeaponXCII - 5/25/2021, 7:50 PM
If Derrickson didn’t feel that he had enough passion for the project, it was probably for the best that they parted ways. That said, I hope that Raimi delivers an amazing movie.
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