Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness didn't quite manage to live up to the lofty expectations of many MCU fans, but we'd be lying to say it didn't pack in more than its fair share of surprises.
Looking at the trailers, officially released stills, and even merchandise (where was Rintrah?), it's become clear that the sequel underwent some significant changes, with many of those occurring during production. While reshoots are the norm on Marvel Studios movies and TV shows, the Illuminati's roster kept changing, as did the way Stephen Strange's story played out from start to finish.
Fans and critics alike have taken aim at the movie's script, with plenty of people now expressing concern over whether Loki scribe Michael Waldron is capable of penning a project as huge as Avengers: Secret Wars.
In a recent Instagram Story, America Chavez actress Xochitl Gomez (whose story arc also appeared to change greatly) spoke out to defend the writer from online attacks.
"Y'all need to stop hating on Michael Waldron," the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star stated. "He's an excellent writer, they asked for 33 rewrites...none of it is up to him."
We're honestly a little surprised that he wanted to continue working with Marvel Studios if that's the case, but there's a chance he's being given more time and freedom with Avengers: Secret Wars. That movie will end the Multiverse Saga - as opposed to setting the stage for it - and we'd like to think Marvel Studios will have a better idea of where this story is heading by then!
Do you think the Doctor Strange sequel gets a bad rap?