Spider-Man: No Way Home one-upped Loki by embracing the concept of the Multiverse and bringing back a whole host of familiar faces from the web-slinger's past franchises. Now, all eyes are on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to take things one step further.
With the former Sorcerer Supreme set to travel through alternate realities alongside America Chavez, Clea, and the Scarlet Witch, Marvel Studios has the chance to reinvent many of the characters we know and love. However, there are also countless potential cameos we could see courtesy of actors who are enlisted to reprise their roles from the X-Men franchise and beyond.
Now, we've scoured the internet to bring you a comprehensive list of every single major rumored cameo in Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange sequel. Some are easy enough to imagine, but others might just leave you with no other choice than to pick your jaw off the floor because they are huge.
It should go without saying that you'll find nothing but spoilers from this point on...
15. Black Bolt
Inhumans may not currently be part of the MCU, but Black Bolt will supposedly appear as a member of the Illuminati in the Doctor Strange sequel.
It's unclear whether the leader of the Inhumans has made the final cut as many characters were touted as making cameo appearances during pre-production. Anson Mount would presumably play the hero, though we're not sure ABC's failed series is a well Marvel Studios will be looking to return to.
Given Black Bolt's history with the Illuminati, an appearance here is at least somewhat likely.
14. Ghost Rider
There have been rumors about Ghost Rider's MCU debut for several years, and it's no secret Marvel Studios put the kibosh on a Hulu TV series that would have starred Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Gabriel Luna.
Neither he nor Nic Cage will be part of this film; instead, Norman Reedus is said to have been cast in the role. That would make a whole lot of fans very happy, and one leak even suggested Ghost Rider might be freed from some sort of spiritual prison, explaining his absence in the MCU until now.
Ghost Rider's big screen return is long overdue, so here's hoping there's some truth to this rumor.
13. Professor X
Sir Patrick Stewart confirmed he met with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, and multiple sources have since claimed we'll see Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, leaked pre-viz images have indicated this will be a Variant more akin to X-Men: The Animated Series than what we saw in the X-Men films.
Charles Xavier is said to be the leader of this Multiversal Illuminati with the plan being for him to battle the Scarlet Witch when she takes over the body of the Wanda Maximoff in his reality.
This would be a massive cameo, and one Marvel Studios might want to consider spoiling in a future trailer. Stewart's Professor X is iconic, so this would drive home exactly how crazy this film will be.
12. Balder The Brave
Marvel Studios has been considering introducing Balder the Brave, Thor's brother, since Thor: The Dark World.
The character has forever been sidelined, unfortunately, but that could change in this film. Balder is said to be a member of the Illuminati, though we have to imagine Marvel Studios has cast a big name actor to fill the role as they run the risk of this character looking like little more than a random Asgardian to anyone unfamiliar with his comic book history.
There were rumblings Balder was removed from the film during reshoots to make the Illuminati a little more star-studded, but we're certainly hoping he has some sort of role to play.
11. Mr. Fantastic
There have been lots of hints and claims that we'll meet Mr. Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with the prevailing theory being that John Krasinski has been cast as the leader of the Fantastic Four.
Disappointingly, he'll supposedly be playing a Variant of Reed Richards. Marvel Studios wasting Krasinski on a cameo is unlikely to be welcomed by many fans, so fingers crossed the MCU's Reed is also played by the Jack Ryan star. However, it's worth noting Ioan Gruffudd's name has been brought up a few times after he played the hero way back in 2005 and 2007.
We have good reason to believe this cameo will happen, so this is one to stay tuned for.
10. Iron Man
Once upon a time, Tom Cruise was eyed for the role of Iron Man. Enlisting him as a Tony Stark Variant would be a huge get for this film, but there have been conflicting reports about the Mission: Impossible star's involvement.
The actor was apparently in talks for a cameo appearance at some point, though no one seems quite sure whether things panned out. However, we will see an Iron Man Variant in the Doctor Strange sequel who controls an army of Ultron drones at the behest of the Illuminati (they apprehend Strange and America Chavez at one point).
We'd love to see Cruise under the helmet, but right now, this feels a little too much like wishful thinking.
9. Loki, Sylvie, & Mobius
Loki ended on a big cliffhanger with Mobius watching as the Sacred Timeline split apart, Sylvie left at the end of time after killing He Who Remains, and the God of Mischief trapped in a reality where the TVA is ruled over by Kang the Conqueror.
We didn't expect Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to address those events, but there's a fair bit of evidence that indicates all three of these characters will appear in the film. It could be for some much-needed exposition or to bridge the gap between Loki season 1 and season 2, but this familiar trio showing up makes sense.
However, there's every chance they'll be more Variants rather than the "real" versions we know.
8. Deadpool
Ryan Reynolds will play the Merc with the Mouth in the MCU, but is he a rebooted Wade Wilson or a leftover from Fox's now-defunct X-Men Universe?
The concept of the Multiverse makes the latter extremely likely, and there have been several rumours that Reynolds will show up as Deadpool here, only to wind up stranded in the MCU. That supposedly comes when he attempts to get involved with the fight between the Scarlet Witch and America Chavez, only to fall through one of the latter's portals.
We don't know what that means for his supporting cast, but the entire MCU could be rewritten after this film.
7. Doctor Strange Supreme
Based on what we saw (and heard) in the first Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer, What If...?'s Doctor Strange Supreme showing up in this film appears to be a lock.
However, he won't be alone. The Mordo that the MCU's Strange was talking to is reportedly a Variant who is part of the Illuminati, while The Ancient One and Kaecillius are likely making cameo appearances as well. Even "Defender Strange" has been rumored to be a Variant, so Strange's world is about to get turned upside down.
It's still Doctor Strange Supreme who most intrigues us, though...
6. Spider-Man
This is a big one. Several websites, leaks, and scoopers have boldly claimed that Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man will be part of this film, though Sam Raimi being in the director's chair means this has been rumoured since the day he signed up for the project.
Spider-Man: No Way Home opened the door for this Peter Parker to cross paths with Strange again. The cameo is only a minor one if the leaks are to be believed, but giving Raimi the opportunity to reunite with this wall-crawler...well, why wouldn't you make that a reality?
We just hope this cameo involves heading to Spidey's reality and learning more about his life with Mary Jane!
5. Captain Carter
Hayley Atwell's Captain Carter ended up being the lead of What If...?, and while she got her happy ending, we already know the character will return in that show's second season.
Many fans have argued that the hero has live-action potential, though, and it sounds like Marvel Studios will capitalise on that by making Peggy a member of the Illuminati. As a member of the Guardians of the Multiverse and one of the heroes assembled by The Watcher to defeat Infinity Ultron, it's only logical that she would be involved somehow.
Unlike other members of the group, though, Captain Carter is thankfully expected to live to fight another day!
4. Monica Rambeau
This is a little weird, but Teyonah Parris is reportedly set to return as Monica Rambeau...well, a Variant Monica.
She's going to be a member of the Illuminati, and seemingly another world's Captain Marvel. It's an interesting creative decision on Marvel Studios' part, particularly as the character has only one appearance to her name prior to this film with WandaVision. We're assuming the hope is that the vast majority of moviegoers will have followed Wanda's story from there to here.
It wouldn't shock us to see Monica's cameo cut, but we'd be lying to say we're not at least a little intrigued by the prospect of seeing a fully powered "Captain Marvel" take on the hero.
3. Wolverine
There have been conflicting reports about Hugh Jackman's potential involvement in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with many scoopers claiming he won't be back as Wolverine.
Since then, however, we've heard that he has been contacted for a cameo, and there's really no one else we can imagine him suiting up as. Jackman's made it clear on countless occasions he's done playing this character, but his history with Kevin Feige and well-known desire to stand alongside the X-Men on screen could lead to a final one-off appearance.
This is a cameo with "mind-blowing" potential, so we're hoping Feige got Jackman to sign on the dotted line.
2. The Watcher
What If...? likely flew under the radars of many casual MCU fans, but Doctor Strange Supreme's presence suggests it would be wise to check the animated series out before this film is released.
The Watcher has proven himself a key part of these Multiversal stories, watching from afar as the lives of the characters we know and love so well play out in very different ways. With that in mind, we're not even a little bit surprised that Uatu is rumored to make a cameo appearance in this film.
It's been claimed he intervenes to rescue America Chavez during a battle with the Scarlet Witch, and the prospect of seeing a live-action Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher has us unbelievably excited!
1. Captain America
It's been widely reported that Chris Evans is in talks for a number of MCU projects, and we have no real reason to believe Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange sequel won't be among them.
After travelling back in time, the elderly Steve Rogers has vanished, but not before passing the mantle on to Sam Wilson. We're not expecting to catch up with the MCU's Steve here, though, as Marvel Studios is instead believed to be plotting a HYDRA Cap cameo with a twisted take on the hero we know.
How better than to toy with both Strange's and the audience's expectations than by highlighting Captain America's return, only to reveal that this Variant is a HYDRA-loving villain?