Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness scored mostly positive reviews (it has a respectable 74% score on Rotten Tomatoes) and has so far grossed $944 million at the worldwide box office. Despite falling slightly short of $1 billion, that's an incredible result in this post-pandemic era, and one that all but guarantees we'll eventually get Doctor Strange 3.
During an interview with The New Indian Express, Benedict Cumberbatch was asked about potentially returning for the threequel and made his interest in continuing Strange's story known.
"I hope so. I would love to do another one," the British actor confirmed. "Doctor Strange is such a complex character and it feels like there is so much more to explore with him. He is such a brilliant character and I’m still having a wild time playing him."
The site also tried to find out where Cumberbatch next hopes to see Strange appear, but he expertly dodged the question by suggesting a team-up with The Beano and The Dandy character Bananaman. "I rather like the idea of him popping up with Bananaman. I was a big Banana Man fan as a kid and I like the idea of us going there to see what he’s been up to."
Stay tuned for that crossover, eh?
In related news, Disney+ has confirmed where Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sits in the current MCU timeline.
Chronologically speaking, Phase 4 began with Loki and was followed by What If...?, WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, the Doctor Strange sequel, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, and Ms. Marvel.
What's interesting about this is where Spider-Man: No Way Home fits into the equation. Based on how that blockbuster ended with the web-slinger in a snowy New York, it seems the epilogue took place shortly after Strange's latest adventure and right before Hawkeye. It's not worth thinking too much about, anyway, as there are no major contradictions or anything like that.
The bigger mystery is why no one in the MCU has mentioned that giant Celestial sticking out of the ocean! However, the prevailing theory is that it's a plot point Marvel Studios plans to address in the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters, and is also available on Digital platforms and Disney+. It hits Blu-ray, 4k Ultra HD, and DVD on July 26.