Hayley Atwell Talks Captain Carter Being "Undermined" In DOCTOR STRANGE 2, Negative Interaction With Sam Raimi

Hayley Atwell reprised her role as Captain Carter in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and, in a new interview, reflects on seeing herself and the character "undermined." Read on for more...

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By JoshWilding - Mar 30, 2025 11:03 AM EST

Filed Under: In the Multiverse of Madness

Hayley Atwell established herself as a fan favourite in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, leaving Marvel Studios no choice but to bring her back into the fold.

That started with a fun "One-Shot" short and, following an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. cameo, Marvel Television launched the Agent Carter TV series (the only one of their shows that Marvel Studios executives were actively involved with).

Years later, Peggy was made the face of Marvel Animation's What If...? as a Variant of the character who took the Super Soldier Serum and became "Captain Carter." She also struck a chord with fans, so her live-action debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was cause for celebration. Until it wasn't.

She died in short order and, confusingly, the Captain Carter who died at the Scarlet Witch's hands was another very similar Variant and, ultimately, a waste of that long-awaited debut. After all, did the Captain not deserve better than being sliced in half by her shield?

Talking on Reign with Josh Smith (via Screen Rant), Atwell reflected on her "blink and you miss me" cameo as a member of the Illuminati and said she took "umbrage on the fact that she has that brilliant line, 'I could do this all day,' then she's Frisbee'd to death with her own shield, and I'm like, 'she's so undermined.'''

"It just got...pulled out from her. And it's a kind of...a funny moment," she continued. "I never want to step on anyone's toes and really respect everyone's skill set."

However, when she offered some technical feedback to filmmaker Sam Raimi, it appears the Spider-Man director didn't appreciate one of the movie's actors stepping on his toes.

"I remember, like, looking at the frame and going, 'Oh, the lighting's [...] quite harsh.' [...] I remember going up to, to a very lovely person who was in a very high position there, and I won't name and shame, but I was like, 'Oh, do you think maybe we could... Can I offer you a possibility that I actually come in from that side and suggest if I did that line there,' and I just came up with an offering technically, which I love doing, because a lot of directors will go, 'Oh, great, try something.'"

"In this particular instance, he went, 'Oh, sure, Hayley, I'll just tell our Oscar-winning editor that you have some choices you'd like to make. And, yeah, don't you worry about that. I'll make sure he gets a memo.' And I went 'Well, considering he's an Oscar-winning editor, he will know a good idea when he sees one, so I'm sure he will enjoy listening to what I have to say to make the scene better.' And the director kind of went, 'Oh, I'm just kidding. I'm just bullying you. Don't worry.' I went, 'You can't bully me. I've got a jetpack on.'"

While it sounds like it was a relatively light-hearted interaction, Atwell's experience on the Doctor Strange sequel sounds largely negative and Raimi seemingly didn't take her feedback well. Despite that, she says it still gave her the confidence to "[be] able to just find a way [to go], 'I'm going to be a little bit bigger here. I'm going to say I've got an idea. I think it's better than the one you've come up with. Respectfully, if you would like it."

You can watch the full interview with Atwell in the player below.

Elizabeth Olsen Talks DOCTOR STRANGE Sequel Reshoots And Pitch She Made To Marvel About Scarlet Witch's Return

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50 Comments

1 2

Gambito - 3/30/2025, 11:09 AM

Sam Raimi breaking balls like usual any OG who has seen the behind the scenes of Spider-Man 2 knows what I’m talking about!

Vigor - 3/30/2025, 11:13 AM

If we are afraid to kill characters off, especially variants. Then we don't deserve the big comic book character ensembles they're spoiling us with.

Reminds me of...

Walking dead fans: stop changing things and keep it comic accurate
Show: *depicts Glenn's death on screen verbatim how it goes in the graphic novel*
Walking dead fans: no not like that

NonPlayerC - 3/30/2025, 12:10 PM

@Vigor - I think she more so had a problem with saying the famous "I can do this all day" Evans line only to be murdered seconds later. She's got a point

Im a die hard source material accuracy kind of guy, but im also one of the people the stopped watching walking dead around Glenns death (I think). can't remember when I left exactly but id say its because Stephen Yuen's chemistry between the other actors was kinda an anchor. Most of the remaining characters were on the bland side for me. Either that or it was just at the point the show was king of slogging thru

newhire13 - 3/30/2025, 1:08 PM

@NonPlayerC - The fact that she’s just straight up killed is the entire point. To go against expectations.

CorndogBurglar - 3/30/2025, 5:32 PM

@Vigor - Man, you nailed it. I was so mad that they changed The Governor so much in TWD. I basically hate-watched it after that. And I just knew they would mess up Negan's intro....except they didnt. It was perfect. So imagine my shock when TWDZ fans were pissed off. It didnt make any sense to me at all.

Like, do you want a universe with actual stakes or not?

Vigor - 3/30/2025, 5:43 PM

@CorndogBurglar - I have significant gripes about certain things in the walking dead show. But sticking to key moments like Glenn's death is not one of them!

CorndogBurglar - 3/30/2025, 5:47 PM

@Vigor - Exactly! In my opinion, the Prison arc with the Governor were the two big ones they HAD to get right. But they fumbled one of those.

asherman93 - 3/31/2025, 2:16 AM

@Vigor -
Show: Okay then *kills off Carl, the emotional core of the comics and lets Rick live*
Fans: [frick]!

AgentofSH1ELD - 3/31/2025, 6:00 AM

@CorndogBurglar - ugh. I was not happy with how they did the Governor.. great actor but man. show could have been so much more than it was.

CorndogBurglar - 3/31/2025, 9:42 AM

@AgentofSH1ELD - Dude, tell me about it. The Governer was a completely unhinged psychopath in the comics lol.

AgentofSH1ELD - 3/31/2025, 10:17 AM

@CorndogBurglar - Your name makes me think of the show "The Gentleman" with the dude and the corndog business he is pushing.
Sorry, just been watching that.. idfk whats wrong with me so dont ask.

CorndogBurglar - 3/31/2025, 11:08 AM

@AgentofSH1ELD - Haha. I've actually been meaning to watch that. I've heard its pretty good.

AgentofSH1ELD - 3/31/2025, 11:11 AM

@CorndogBurglar - its fair. good mix of serious and funny.

MikeyL - 3/30/2025, 11:14 AM

You say in the title it’s a negative interaction but then in the article say it was a light-hearted interaction. Your title is misleading on purpose. @natebest is there any way the title can be amended?

harryba11zack - 3/30/2025, 11:15 AM

@MikeyL - you forget that this is a josh article, lying is how he pays rent.

DarthOmega - 3/30/2025, 11:18 AM

@MikeyL - Consider the source

ObserverIO - 3/30/2025, 11:32 AM

@MikeyL - Journalists, pundits and lets face it the entire internet including you and me are drooling through our monstrous teeth waiting for any tasty morsel of negativity.

Yes it seems lighthearted, but lets just refer to it as some horribly serious event from now on, it'll be more juicy that way. We have nothing else to live for, admit it.

DTor91 - 3/30/2025, 11:56 AM

@MikeyL - Plus, she never names Sam Raimi once in what the article is pulling from. She says “directors” and it’s probably a safe presumption, but that’s all it is. And there’s different types of “directors” on set. But of course, leading with misleading and presumption is @JoshWilding’s game.

Kiba - 3/30/2025, 4:00 PM

@NateBest I have to agree with @MikeyL.

Why do you allow @JoshWilding to continue to post these deceptive and sometimes antagonizing articles? Pretty scummy. Does he have leverage on you, or do you wholeheartedly support his poor journalism?

JoshWilding - 3/30/2025, 5:39 PM

@Kiba @MikeyL (CC: @NateBest) - I’d say you need to reread the article. It’s clear from watching the video and reading her remarks that this was not a positive interaction and that she didn’t appreciate Raimi’s comments. And yes, while it may have been a light-hearted jab on *his* part, if you can’t see why she might have had an issue with the way he spoke to her, that’s on you. There’s nothing “scummy” about highlighting the fact he was pretty rude to her, though it seems to me like you have an issue with a director you like being called out.

DTor91 - 3/30/2025, 5:59 PM

@JoshWilding -
(CC: @NateBest)
Lol can do that too. Anyway…

“It’s clear from watching the video and reading her remarks that this was not a positive interaction and that she didn’t appreciate Raimi’s comments.”

After she says the part your article is highlighting, she proceeds to say “we both chuckled,” and it sounds like it all worked out in the end.
You state “Atwell's experience on the Doctor Strange sequel sounds largely negative and Raimi seemingly didn't take her feedback well” and nowhere in the video is that feeling implied.
“And yes, while it may have been a light-hearted jab on *his* part, if you can’t see why she might have had an issue with the way he spoke to her, that’s on you.” Pretty defensive for someone criticizing your piece when there’s justifiable reason here. Also none of the above said anything remotely close about backing or standing up for Raimi here. They’re simply calling out your language.

I also want to point out once again and find it interesting you don’t address me or what I said with the fact that she never once says Sam Raimi. Once again, that’s on YOU for speculating (same with your defensive remark) and making the assumption. She says she won’t shame names, and she does say director, but that can also refer to an AD or a DP. Both of which do have a say when it comes to shots during filmmaking. It could be a slip up on her part, but again, nothing is defined in the verbiage she’s using.

DTor91 - 3/30/2025, 6:03 PM

@DTor91 - I also want to point out, that it’s mighty large conjecture to say her experience on the film is “largely negative” when she’s simply discussing one instance of disagreement. Something that happens on literally every single movie set. Large collaborative processes, much like producing a film, there’s going to be disagreements along the way.

JoshWilding - 3/30/2025, 6:17 PM

@DTor91 - I tagged Nate because the other user did and there’s a chance he wouldn’t see my reply if I didn’t, so not sure what’s so funny about that to you.

90% of her comments here are about how much she disliked the portrayal of her character and a description of what sounds like a very condescending, rude exchange with “the director” (I’ve written tens of thousands of articles for this site and never known an actor refer to anyone other than the director as “the director,” FYI). If Nate believes anything here has been misrepresented or misconstrued, I’ll fully respect his decision to edit as he sees fit. I’m not here to argue with commenters. 👍🏻

MikeyL - 3/31/2025, 2:52 AM

@JoshWilding - I understand your perspective, but the issue is with the contradiction in the framing. If the interaction was “light-hearted” on Raimi’s part, then labeling it as a “negative interaction” in the title is misleading. Atwell herself responded confidently, which suggests she didn’t take it as harshly as the article implies.

If the goal is to highlight that she may not have appreciated the remark, that’s fair—but the article’s title makes it seem like an outright conflict when the reality appears more nuanced. It can’t be both a “light-hearted jab” and a “negative interaction” at the same time. That’s where the confusion comes in, and it the title is leaning into drama rather than accuracy.

This isn’t about defending Raimi—it’s about how the story is being presented. I truly couldn’t care less about him as a director, I don’t blindly care about him or any of his films, so trying to lessen and frame my concern for your article title poorly representing the subject while also being specifically chosen for clickbait is an extremely weird snd desperate argument, to say the least. Please do not attempt to lessen my concern by framing it on such a baseless accusation.

Please also note that I never used the word “scummy” in my comment, nor did the others in response and agreement to mine. This feels more like a projection on your part or rather an admittance that you know the title is not accurately representing the story and is rather just being used for clicks.

I do also largely agree with the point that @DTor91 made regarding the director. Because she does not state which director (as there are many types on set that would be involved in the framing and shot), you have named one specifically just because *you* have decided it refers to someone specifically. If you can’t see how that can potentially be misrepresenting what she is saying and could even be considered libel, that’s on you.

JoshWilding - 3/31/2025, 4:13 AM

@MikeyL - Honestly, you're way overthinking this. As I explained in a previous comment, what Raimi considered a playful jab was clearly not well-received by Atwell and comes across as incredibly condescending and an attempt to put her in her place.

Based on the evidence I have to hand, that is how I perceive this interaction, hence why I described this as a "negative" interaction, even if it was meant as a joke by "the director" in question (once again, tens of thousands of articles in and 16 years doing this job, and I've yet to hear an actor refer to anyone other than THE director as "the director" while discussing a shoot - trust me, if this article was in any way incorrect, I'd have already had an email from Atwell or Raimi's reps asking for an edit...not a threat of "libel").

As per usual, there's a real lack of understanding of what "clickbait" is and, FYI, there's literally a comment beneath yours that agrees with you and uses the word "scummy," so no projection necessary.

The comments section is here to allow you to agree, disagree, and share your own opinions. I stand by how I've reported this but, if the site's owner decides he'd like to change it, that's his prerogative and something I have no issue with. Beyond that, nothing more to say but I hope this response at least clears a few things up.

harryba11zack - 3/30/2025, 11:14 AM

she ended up only being half the cap that steve was.

FrankenDad - 3/30/2025, 11:27 AM

@harryba11zack -

DarthOmega - 3/30/2025, 11:17 AM

lol Kinda reminds me of Spielberg in Austin Powers

RedFury - 3/30/2025, 11:22 AM

It's a fine line to step across as an actor. The director is there to direct, and the actor is there to act. It's obviously a collaborative environment, but I think actors need to be careful about thinking they know what's best for a scene when the director, and cinematographer have likely but a lot of thought into it ahead of time.

I'm not saying she's wrong, but I think we all need to understand that if we have the confidence to ask someone to change something, we also need to have the ability to take the no, and be okay with that. It does sound like it was a cheeky exchange that probably didn't lead to any bad blood.

And I'd say it goes both ways. Directors need to be careful about telling an actor to change their performance. They were hired for a reason, and they should be able to apply their talents since that's what they were hired to do.

AnEye - 3/30/2025, 11:54 AM

Raimi is known for bullying his actors.

Polaris - 3/30/2025, 12:03 PM

I'm so tired of Peggy at this point. After what if...? I don't need to see her ever again. She had a good arc in the movies, a show, a happy ending, a role as a multiversal superhero... It's enough imo. Meanwhile they randomly turned Sharon into a villain just to forget about her.

She was in MOM to look cool for a sec and get killed so we understood how powerful Wanda is. Was Patrick Steward undermined too?

KennKathleen - 3/30/2025, 12:20 PM

@Polaris - Stewart was completely undermined. Peggy has been annoying since The First Avenger. Turning her into a series and then a heroine has been a real waste of time IMO.

Spike101 - 3/30/2025, 12:34 PM

That would scene was a bit of a mess, it hud tv seemed almost pointless. I can only think Raimi was told to include it and he wasn’t really interested in it as part of the story he wanted to tell.

FinnishDude - 3/30/2025, 12:51 PM

There are a lot of great things one can say about Raimi as a filmmaker, but female characters have probably never (a case could be made in favor of The Quick and the Dead) been his strong point. Although, in this case, I never agreed that Illuminati were wasted or the like. The whole point was to raise the stakes by having Wanda take out the most powerful people of the Universe they had landed on by ease. By making the fight longer/more even or giving them more plot-related action would have gone against that.

Kurban - 3/30/2025, 1:07 PM

God she looked terrible in this movie

GeneralZod - 3/30/2025, 4:40 PM

@Kurban - She looks great, always.

SuperiorHeckler - 3/30/2025, 1:08 PM

Hayley, it's called a cameo. Put it in your rear-view mirror and enjoy whatever the paycheck bought you from it. 🙄

Thing94 - 3/30/2025, 1:52 PM

@SuperiorHeckler - Right!

DTor91 - 3/30/2025, 2:02 PM

@SuperiorHeckler - Or or….use your thinking cap for a second I know you’ve had one since kindergarten……

Considering how so many of these MCU productions change on the fly, it’s possible she was told one thing and it ended up being another.

Or or how about this: doing this may have prevented work in something else, and the pay you think she gets for said scene isn’t really all that high. I mean, you’d think after the strikes and now with shows like The Studio, this misconception would die already.

Or try this on for size: she loves the craft, is now attached to the character, and just thought of a suggestion that can work, considering the collaborative process behind filmmaking.

Thinking caps! A lot of you on this site kept those locked away for far too long.

ToldYaSo - 3/30/2025, 1:11 PM

Actually, she was never shown to be cut in half. Maybe the shield just...got ...stuck...somewhere?

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Hayley Atwell Talks Captain Carter Being "Undermined" In DOCTOR STRANGE 2, Negative Interaction With Sam Raimi

Hayley Atwell reprised her role as Captain Carter in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and, in a new interview, reflects on seeing herself and the character "undermined." Read on for more...

Elizabeth Olsen Talks DOCTOR STRANGE Sequel Reshoots And Pitch She Made To Marvel About Scarlet Witch's Return

TVA #3 Artist Pere Pérez Confirms Comic Book Does Feature Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.