The original plan was for Scott Derrickson to take the helm of the Doctor Strange sequel, though "creative differences" with Marvel Studios led to him departing the project. The belief is that Marvel Studios' focus on the Multiverse played a role in the filmmaker leaving the MCU, and it's previously been reported that Derrickson was looking to focus on Nightmare.
The 2016 movie originally featured a flashback sequence to the night Stephen Strange's sister drowned in an icy lake, an event that was referenced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
However, concept art shared by Oliver Carroll has now revealed a scrapped confrontation with Nightmare! It's unclear whether this is from when Derrickson was still attached to the project or an early Sam Raimi idea, but it looks like Strange would have been forced to return to the fateful night his sister died.
We've got no idea who those beings on the shore watching on are, but can safely say that is Nightmare due to the demonic villain being sat atop a horse.
Perhaps the Scarlet Witch originally intended to set Nightmare after the former Sorcerer Supreme before Marvel Studios decided the villain could be better used in a future movie? Either way, it did look like there was a time when Strange's dreams were an important part of this movie, though they ultimately became a way for him to see into the Multiverse.
"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a one of a kind blockbuster experience," we said in our review a few months ago, "and a pure, unadulterated Sam Raimi movie that, while not quite the crazy ride through the Multiverse we expected, delivers a fun, horror-tinged trip."
Take a closer look at this concept art below and check out more of Oliver's amazing work by heading to his website.