Original DOCTOR STRANGE 2 Writer Says There Are "Two Versions" Of The Sequel; Details Marvel Experience

Original DOCTOR STRANGE 2 Writer Says There Are "Two Versions" Of The Sequel; Details Marvel Experience

Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson was originally meant to return for the sequel, and writer Jade Halley Bartlett has now confirmed his vision differed greatly from what Sam Raimi later delivered.

By JoshWilding - Jan 25, 2024 10:01 AM EST
Source: ComicBook.com

Original plans called for Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson to return for the sequel. The 2016 movie included visuals unlike anything we'd seen in the MCU before and delivered a clever final act which, while still heavy on VFX, cleverly played around with the concept of time. 

Unfortunately, creative differences led to Derrickson parting ways with Marvel Studios. Spider-Man trilogy director Sam Raimi was enlisted to replace him and Loki writer Michael Waldron rewrote a screenplay which had once been penned by Jade Halley Bartlett (Miller's Girl). 

ComicBook.com recently asked Bartlett about the time she spent working on Doctor Strange 2 - which would later be dubbed Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - and she confirmed Derrickson's vision was vastly different to Raimi's. 

"I was on the project for about a year. I was the first writer in on Doctor Strange 2, and it was really fun," she explained. "There are two versions. There's the Raimi, Michael Waldron version, which is exquisite, and I love both of them. Then, I was with Scott Derrickson. We developed it for about a year in the room with Kevin [Feige] and Eric [Hauserman Carroll] and Lou [D'Esposito] and Richie [Palmer]."

"It was Scott and it was really exciting and it was really fun. I still cannot believe I got that job. I don't know how I got that job. I did get the job. We had a whole draft, and then of course the pandemic happened, which was a nightmare."

Unfortunately, Bartlett wasn't allowed to share any details about that original draft but did praise Marvel Studios. "They're so kind and they're very generous. It was like getting to work with scholars, I guess, scholars of these comic books. So that was really fun," she enthused. "I think I have this giant binder of, I think, every Doctor Strange ever, which is pretty amazing, and it's in color. They printed it in color, so that was really exciting."

From what little we know about Derrickson's vision for the movie, it would have heavily featured Nightmare and largely avoided any Multiversal elements. In fact, it would have embraced horror in an even bigger way than Raimi's take.

Talking last year, the director said this about why he chose not to helm Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness:

"All I can say is that what we said publicly is exactly the truth. We had real creative differences. You know, the movie I wanted to make and how I wanted to make it was different than - it was just increasingly obvious that we were pulling against each other. And that’s how you make a really bad movie, I think. When the producer or the studio and the filmmaker are making different movies, you end up with a monstrosity and, you know, that’s why I had to bounce." 

It's unclear whether he'll ever return to the MCU but last we heard, Marvel Studios wanted Raimi to work on Doctor Strange 3 (with the idea being that the threequel will be fast-tracked to arrive before the next Avengers movies). 

Do you think the studio made a mistake by not committing to Derrickson's version of the sequel?

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mountainman
mountainman - 1/25/2024, 10:44 AM
I would have preferred the original Derrickson version with Nightmare as villain and no multiverse to the mess we got.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 1/25/2024, 10:45 AM
@mountainman - that's what it should have been
ReverseFlasher
ReverseFlasher - 1/25/2024, 11:05 AM
@mountainman - i liked DS1 but tbh imo Derrickson has had diminishing returns since sinister. Maybe just because i like hawke, carghill and the sinister re-team, but I had high expectations for Black Phone, and thought it was a bit of a letdown.

And i kinda blame Raimi for DS2… as much as I LOVE evil dead 1-3, sm1 and 2, and more, he has a very stilted style that does not mix well w the mcu, he sometimes doesn't direct actors that well (see sm3), and he hadnt directed a pic in like 10 years before.
mountainman
mountainman - 1/25/2024, 11:08 AM
@ReverseFlasher - I actually liked the scenes where Raimi’s style came through. I just didn’t like the story, making Wanda a full on villain, the uninspired use of the multiverse elements, and McGuffin Chavez.
ReverseFlasher
ReverseFlasher - 1/25/2024, 11:09 AM
@mountainman - i like raimis dutch angles hard cuts etc… just not his direction of actors.
Fogs
Fogs - 1/25/2024, 12:13 PM
@mountainman - Agreed. That Shuma-Gorath fight was pure Raimi and I loved it.

I kinda liked MoM (specially when comparing it to the rest of Phase 4), but yeah, there was something missing there. It was an almost-good film.
marvel72
marvel72 - 1/25/2024, 10:45 AM
I want to see it,I am one of the few who liked Doctor Strange And The MultiVerse Of Madness.

Second best movie of Phase 4.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 1/25/2024, 10:46 AM
@marvel72 - that bar is pretty low tbh
HammerLegFoot
HammerLegFoot - 1/25/2024, 10:47 AM
@marvel72 - I also enjoyed that movie highly
marvel72
marvel72 - 1/25/2024, 10:56 AM
@bobevanz - Yeah Spider-Man:No Way Home being the best.
marvel72
marvel72 - 1/25/2024, 10:57 AM
@HammerLegFoot - Exactly, it had flaws but overall I enjoyed it.
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/25/2024, 11:19 AM
@marvel72 -
MoM was a great movie IMHO. Totally entertaining.
cubrn
cubrn - 1/25/2024, 12:33 PM
@Goldboink - MoM was great and gets better with subsequent viewings.
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/25/2024, 1:51 PM
@cubrn -
It has depth. I haven't been as interested in Spidey 4.
HammerLegFoot
HammerLegFoot - 1/25/2024, 10:46 AM
Doctor Strange and The Night of Mare! Would have loved to see that
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 1/25/2024, 11:17 AM

"There are two versions. There's the Raimi, Michael Waldron version, which is exquisite, and I love both of them.“

TheLobster
TheLobster - 1/25/2024, 11:25 AM
I really dug Multiverse of Madness (one of the very few Marvel projects I like post-Endgame tbh) but I definitely would have loved to see what Derrickson was cooking up.
SATW42
SATW42 - 1/25/2024, 11:29 AM
RELEASE THE Scott Derrickson CUT, DDEEEEEERP DE DERP DERP!!!
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 1/25/2024, 11:30 AM
When I watch Multiverse of Madness I do wonder if there is a slightly scarier version that Raimi made and got dialed back to be presentable to kids.
I know they got rid of the execution of Mordo.
ZomZom
ZomZom - 1/25/2024, 11:35 AM
After loving this character since the early 70s, I must admit to feeling disappointed by the movies. Benedict is a great actor but he's not Stephen Strange. The fake accent and wig are a distraction but so too is the all too familiar tone of the two movies. For me Strange was always a dark soul, drawn to the light. The MCU version is too lightweight and affable. I thought that #2 under Raimi would have ramped up the horror element but he's still just aother boy scout with sparkly magic tricks. This could have been an entirely different genre of movie, introducing the supernatural to the MCU, instead it's another generic adventure and the multiverse nonsense just buried any hope of originality.
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 1/25/2024, 11:52 AM
@ZomZom - Absolutely.
MadThanos
MadThanos - 1/25/2024, 12:45 PM
@ZomZom - I love so much the first movie.

Strange isn't my fav Marvel character but when it comes to the MCU, the first movie is by far my favorite one.

Off course ig you're not counting the one that I win - Infinity War.
BassMan
BassMan - 1/25/2024, 11:43 AM
As much as I loved MoM, seeing a full on horror flick in Dreamland would’ve been amazing.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 1/25/2024, 11:43 AM
So it was fun, amazing amd exciting? Got it.

Just wish they were allowed to share some stuff on Derrickson's story with Nightmare. Wouldn't mind it though if they saved it for a What If.
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 1/25/2024, 12:20 PM
@bkmeijer1 - right?!? I'm sick of filler commentary which says absolutely nothing!!!

[frick] fun! I want details!
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 1/25/2024, 11:51 AM
"I still cannot believe I got that job. I don't know how I got that job."

We can't either hun, but if you keep praising and kissing butt like that - they're bound to ask you again.
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 1/25/2024, 12:20 PM
@BillyBatson1000 - 🙄🎯
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/25/2024, 1:21 PM
@BillyBatson1000 -

That describes my entire 40 year career in business for a large corporation.
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 1/25/2024, 8:56 PM
@DocSpock - Man, if it keeps the lights on, it's a working life.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 1/25/2024, 11:56 AM
Thought DS2 was entertaining, but overall not as solid as the first film despite some of the horror elements I enjoyed.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/25/2024, 11:58 AM

This just in:

Zack Snyder also did a treatment on MoM that would have been the best CBM ever made, but the stupid studio changed it up and ruined his vision.

Release the Snyder cut! Release the Derrickson cut! Release the non studio interference Raimi cut!

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz............

Fogs
Fogs - 1/25/2024, 12:15 PM
MoM was a lot of fun, flawed but nice.
I'd watch it right now if it was on, and that's how I mainly gauge if I liked a movie or not.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/25/2024, 1:19 PM
@Fogs -

I liked it too. I can't wait to see what Strange & Clea have been up to in that other realm. They could tie that into any story line.

It will be a great day when Dr. Strange and/or the FF attract the attention of Annihilus. Gimme Gimme Gimme!!!
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 1/25/2024, 12:28 PM
MARVEL has had more What if..? Scenarios pointing towards better sounding unfinished films than the developed post-endgame flops.

I'm hoping the failed phases have given enough evidence to prove how little we care for woke nonsense. Bring back solid stories. Fire the bitches whose main interests are immoral inclusivity.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/25/2024, 1:15 PM
@KennKathleen -

Are you suggesting that they ALSO start inserting QUALITY back into these movies in addition to all the DEI punch in the face messages we know they will put in?

They will probably burn you at the stake now for heresy.


Itwasme
Itwasme - 1/25/2024, 2:01 PM
@KennKathleen - every unfinished project can sound interesting, the challenge is in pulling it off. A multi-verse hopping chase film with a huge ting of horror sounds better imo. But the film felt a little too streamlined imo too.

It can all sound good on paper, but translating from an idea into reality is incredibly hard and few people pull it off.
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 1/25/2024, 5:15 PM
@Itwasme - it didn't seem too hard from 2008-2019. Maybe I'm remembering the past with rose colored glasses, but I have not even bothered watching several phase 4-5 projects. I feel like I haven't missed a thing.
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