Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is an important chapter in the Multiversal story Marvel Studios is looking to tell in the MCU's post-Avengers: Endgame era. It's clear the stage is being set for Kang the Conqueror to take on a similar role to the one once played by Thanos as a big bad whose story unfolds potentially over the next decade or more as we swap space for the Multiverse.
The storytelling potential here is massive, and like Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home, the Doctor Strange sequel lays the groundwork for a lot of exciting new stories moving forward.
In this feature, we're taking a closer look at all the future hints and teases revealed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, exploring what they mean for the MCU as we try to figure out exactly what Kevin Feige has planned. From the Young Avengers to Mount Wundagore and even a possible Mysterio twist, we have some wild ideas we think you'll enjoy delving into.
To take a look through this breakdown of what might be next, click the "Next" button down below!
6. Incursions
Make no mistake about it, incursions are a very big deal for the MCU. With it now established that a Variant spending too much time in another reality will eventually lead to the two worlds colliding and one or both being destroyed, we know it's not so easy for, say, a Variant Iron Man to replace the original (this also better explains, beyond keeping Kang under control, what exactly the TVA was there for).
Looking further into the future, common sense says that all of this Multiversal madness will eventually lead to a Secret Wars event where countless realities are combined to form Battleworld. From there, Marvel Studios can create a new reality that likely incorporates the X-Men and other heroes and villains they're looking to reboot for whatever the next era of storytelling ends up looking like.
5. The Importance Of Mount Wundagore
Just like in the comic books, Mount Wundagore is home to the original Darkhold. The Scarlet Witch may have destroyed that structure, but this could still prove to be a very important location in the MCU following Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's villain, The High Evolutionary, has links there that could actually factor into Wanda's story down the line.
On the page, Wanda's mother sought refuge at the High Evolutionary's citadel there and gave birth to the twins who would one day become known as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Chthon, who was mentioned in this movie as the Darkhold's author, imbued the infant Wanda with the ability to use magic, and all of this could be explored should Marvel Studios choose to head down that route.
4. Mordo's Revenge
It's thought that a scene with the Scarlet Witch killing the MCU's Mordo was cut from this movie, and while that would have quickly established Wanda as a formidable force, we're glad Karl has lived to fight another day. Strange tells America Chavez that his old mentor has spent the past few years trying to kill him, so they've both clearly crossed paths off-screen at some point in time since 2016.
We enjoyed spending time with The Illuminati's Master Mordo, but there's no real reason for him to return even after his teammates were slaughtered. Instead, we'd like to see Wong forced to reluctantly team up with the MCU's Mordo to try and stop Strange from embracing dark magic and putting their reality at risk. That sounds like a story that could have some fun twists and turns, don't you think?
3. A Big Mysterio Twist
This could be an Easter Egg gone wrong, but in Spider-Man: Far From Home, so-called Multiversal traveller Quentin Beck said the MCU had been designated Earth-616. In the Doctor Strange sequel, The Illuminati reveal that they've also given that number to the comic book world we've become so familiar with, so what if Mysterio wasn't actually lying to Spider-Man about being from another reality?
Yes, we'd later learn he was a former Stark Industries employee, but it could be that he was just using that story to get all those disgruntled enemies of Tony Stark to work for him. There is a precedent in the comic books for Mysterio to travel between worlds, and given what Peter Parker just went through in Spider-Man: No Way Home, we can't help but think we haven't seen the last of this villain.
2. Into The Dark Dimension
At the end of this movie, we learn that using the Darkhold has indeed had an impact on Stephen Strange as a third eye opens on his forehead as he screams in pain. In the post-credits scene, the former Sorcerer Supreme is approached by a woman we learn is Clea; she wants Strange's help in stopping an incursion he's caused, and opens a portal to the Dark Dimension they then leap into together.
The last time Strange visited that realm, he defeated Dormammu, and Clea, well, she's that villain's niece. Having embraced that third eye and possibly even dark magic, we could be looking at a more dangerous and powerful Doctor Strange than ever before, but will he be tempted down a route there's no coming back from? Something tells us exploring this side of the hero will be a big part of Phase 4.
1. Young Avengers
The introduction of America Chavez adds another Young Avenger to the MCU, and while we're still waiting for the likes of Patriot, Speed, and Wiccan to either receive their powers or grow up a little, it seems obvious this is the direction Marvel Studios is heading in. We don't necessarily think we'll get a project titled Young Avengers, but they're clearly looking to assemble a new generation of heroes.
After what happened to their mother at the hands of the Scarlet Witch, the Earth-838 Billy and Tommy could look to travel to the MCU in a bid for revenge. Then again, if they exist in every reality aside from the MCU, then there are bound to be superpowered Variants of the twins out there somewhere who we're sure Wanda could cross paths with in an Avengers: The Children's Crusade adaptation.