SPOILERS for Doctor Strange follow:
The recent premiere of Doctor Strange has much of Marvel's fan base talking about where the MCU is going now that Stephen Strange a.k.a. Doctor Strange has joined the universe. Stephen Strange was also accompanied by several other known Marvel characters in Doctor Strange, characters who appear to have a bright future in the MCU alongside him. Baron Mordo and Dormammu being the most notable Marvel characters to join Stephen Strange, will likely resurface when Stephen Strange continues his quest to become Sorcerer Supreme.
Who Will Become The Next Sorcerer Supreme?
The events of Doctor Strange saw the Ancient One murdered, leaving the role of Sorcerer Supreme vacant. One would assume that Stephen Strange would take up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme but he wasn't named Sorcerer Supreme during his first feature film. However, that doesn't mean the title isn't within Strange's future. Benedict Cumberbatch has a few upcoming appearance as Stephen Strange in the next several MCU films, any of which could see Stephen Strange become Sorcerer Supreme.
Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is expected to make his next appearance in Thor: Ragnarok while he assists Thor in locating Odin on Earth but his role in Ragnarokwill likely be minimal, if not a cameo at most. After Thor: Ragnarok, Stephen Strange has been confirmed for an appearance in Avengers: Infinity War, where Stephen Strange will join the Avengers as they take on the mad titan Thanos. Stephen Strange is going to be quite busy until after Avengers: Infinity War, then Stephen Strange might have enough time to focus on becoming Sorcerer Supreme in his next solo adventure.
Strange didn't intend to become the Sorcerer Supreme during Doctor Strange but the conclusion of the film was surely calling for him to step into the role. Not only was the conclusion of Doctor Strange hinting at Stephen Strange's continued quest to become Sorcerer Supreme, but the post-credits sequence teased another sorcerer competing for the title of Sorcerer Supreme: Baron Mordo.
Baron Mordo, Doctor Strange (2016).
Post-Credits Sequence Of Doctor Strange Leads Into Doctor Strange 2
During the post-credits sequence of Doctor Strange, Baron Mordo returned as he made a visit to Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt). The visit wasn't of a kind nature since Mordo appeared to Pangborn in order to take the magic within him. After Mordo took Pangborn's magic, leaving him paralyzed, Mordo noted how there are too many sorcerers in the world and his new goal is to eliminate the remaining sorcerers.
Keeping the post-credits scene in mind, that small clip doesn't provide any insight into why Mordo could be competing for title of Sorcerer Supreme but the screenwriter for Doctor Strange, Jon Spaihts recently weighed in on Mordo's current goals and how it could lead to Baron Mordo becoming Sorcerer Supreme himself.
In a recent statement made by Spaihts, he went on to explain Mordo's new motivations following the events of Doctor Strange.
"What's intriguing about Mordo as we see him in the post-credits scene is that like Kaecilius, he's on a quest to do what he thinks is best. But unlike Kaecilius, his idea of what's best is to eliminate any trace of Dormammu in our realm."
Spaihts comments indicate Mordo isn't the villain we think he is. Just because Mordo took another sorcerer's magic, it doesn't mean he's necessarily a villain now. Mordo is simply doing what he thinks is best, and that's removing any trace of Dormammu. But in order to do so, Mordo needs the magic of others to become strong enough to withstand Dormammu's assaults.
Mordo To Vie For Title Of Sorcerer Supreme?
Considering that Baron Mordo intends to remove any trace of Dormammu from Earth's realm, his next step will likely be to become Sorcerer Supreme. Mordo understands that the goal of Sorcerer Supreme is to protect Earth's realm from mystical threats. In turn, if Mordo's goal is to keep threats like Dormammu from entering Earth's dimension, he's essentially doing the job of Sorcerer Supreme. So, it would make sense for Mordo to want the title of Sorcerer Supreme for his own.
Not only would Baron Mordo see the significance in becoming Sorcerer Supreme as beneficial to the world but access to all the teachings of Kamar-Taj would give Baron Mordo knowledge of multiple volumes of magic scriptures from which Mordo could learn of new magic, making him an even more formidable adversary when competing for title of Sorcerer Supreme.
Doctor Strange captures Baron Mordo, Marvel Comics.
Accounting for both Mordo and Strange likely competing the role of Sorcerer Supreme, the next Doctor Strange film will probably see Stephen Strange earning his place as Sorcerer Supreme while Baron Mordo attempts to stop it by contesting Strange's succession to the Ancient One as Sorcerer Supreme.
Another Sorcerer Could Compete To Become Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme?
The search for a new Sorcerer Supreme will undoubtedly take place during Doctor Strange 2 but there are more contenders waiting to place their own hats in the ring for Sorcerer Supreme; Brother Voodoo being one of them.
Brother Voodoo and the ghost of Daniel Drumm, Marvel Comics.
Jericho Drumm, otherwise known as Brother Voodoo is likely to show up as a contender for title of Sorcerer Supreme as well, especially after his brother, Daniel Drumm was killed during the standalone Doctor Strange film.
During Doctor Strange, Daniel Drumm died when Kaecilius invaded the New York Sanctum Sanctorum. Daniel Drumm attempted to protect the Sanctum but was unsuccessful in restraining Kaecilius and his minions. Strange arrived shortly after Daniel Drumm was struck down.
As to how Daniel Drumm's death could play into Brother Voodoo's introduction to the MCU has to do with their comic-book origins.
Daniel Drumm and Jericho Drumm's Potential Roles In The MCU
Daniel Drumm, Doctor Strange Prelude Comic.
In the comics, Daniel Drumm died due to a voodoo curse, but before dying, Daniel had his brother, Jericho go to Papa Jambo to be taught in the practices of voodoo. Once becoming proficient in voodoo practices, Jericho Drumm decided to go by the superhero name of Brother Voodoo. As Brother Voodoo, Jericho battled several known Marvel villains, along with becoming Sorcerer Supreme at one point in his Marvel comics origin.
With the Drumms' comic-book history in mind, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to see Jericho Drumm a.k.a. Brother Voodoo make an appearance in the MCU; in response to his brother's death during Doctor Strange. Not only would Jericho Drumm want someone to answer for his Daniel Drumm's death, but Jericho / Brother Voodoo might see the only way to honor his brother's sacrifice is to become the next Sorcerer Supreme.
Jericho Drumm a.k.a. Brother Voodoo.
Considering that Jericho Drumm a.k.a. Brother Voodoo will probably make an appearance in the sequel to Doctor Strange, Brother Voodoo joining the mystic battle could see him become a contender for Sorcerer Supreme alongside Stephen Strange and Baron Mordo. That scenario would place several sorcerers competing for the title of Sorcerer Supreme all at once.
How We Know Where The Doctor Strange Story Is Going Next
But if the current motivations of Baron Mordo and Stephen Strange aren't enough to convince you that a battle to become Sorcerer Supreme is fast approaching, Jon Spaihts, screenwriter of Doctor Strange, also commented on where the Doctor Strange story is going next, in a recent interview.
In the interview, Spaihts more than hinted at a search for a new Sorcerer Supreme taking place in the near future.
As we leave the world, this smoking aftermath of this brush with nonexistence, it is an Earth without its protector. The aspiring replacement for that protector is green and new and still has a lot to learn and that's a world in peril. I think that could very well be the starting point for the following story.
Spaihts comments are obviously geared towards the focus of a new Sorcerer Supreme being crowned during Doctor Strange 2, when accounting for Spaihts mention of "a starting point for the following story".
Aside from several sorcerers competing for title of Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange 2will likely see Dormammu return as the main antagonist as well. Dormammu was briefly introduced during Doctor Strange but his resurgence is quite probable during the sequel. Along with multiple sorcerers busy battling each other over a minute title like Sorcerer Supreme, Dormammu could easily slither his way into Earth's dimension without anyone noticing. The competition to become Sorcerer Supreme might be the main focus of the first half of the film, likely followed up by Dormammu appearing unexpectedly - forcing Strange, Mordo, and presumably Brother Voodoo to team up in order to stop Dormammu during the second half of Doctor Strange 2.
Dormammu, Doctor Strange (2016).
Aside from the impending competition to become the new Sorcerer Supreme, what do you think will take place during Doctor Strange 2? Will Stephen Strange venture into more alternate dimensions? Or will more inter-dimensional entities join Stephen Strange in Earth's dimension? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Doctor Strange is currently in theaters everywhere.