Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson was supposed to helm Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but parted ways with Marvel Studios over "creative differences." Rumour has it he hoped to make a full-blown horror movie with Nightmare as the lead villain, but with the MCU moving on to exploring the Multiverse, that clearly wasn't going to work.
Sam Raimi being at the helm of the movie certainly feels like a sign we could be getting some horror vibes, and while we're anticipating visiting other realities, a big bad like Shuma Gorath opens the door to a scarier feel.
During a recent interview, WandaVision star (and Emmy nominee) Elizabeth Olsen opened up on reprising the role of the Scarlet Witch in the sequel. "It was really hard. Sam Raimi is lovely, and I got to learn a lot from him. It was odd going from WandaVision and bringing this character to a different film that felt more based in the Marvel films."
"I felt like I was putting on old shoes. It’s a very scary movie," she teased. "It’s old Sam Raimi. They’re trying to create the scariest Marvel movie. So there’s that!"
It sounds like we're in store for something really special with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but more details are likely a long way off. We may, however, get a glimpse at what's to come when the Sorcerer Supreme makes his presence felt in Spider-Man: No Way Home this December.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to be released in theaters on March 25, 2022.