“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is heading to theatres on May 6. Technically, it’s a sequel to 2016’s “Doctor Strange,” which introduced the character, but he’s appeared in a multitude of Marvel movies and TV shows since then, including “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and the Disney+ series “What If…?” The new movie combines characters from the first film with heroes from the greater MCU, plus at least one brand-new character who’ve never been seen on screen before.
According to Marvel, the new movie picks up a few months after “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The official synopsis reads, “In Marvel Studios’ ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.”
Though this movie is apparently going to be the biggest dive into the multiverse yet, the MCU has been playing with the concept for over a year. The Disney+ series “Loki” saw its titular character unleash chaos in the timelines in the show’s finale. Dr. Strange’s tinkering with the multiverse is what allowed other versions of Spider-Man to cross over to meet Tom Holland’s. And technically, the MCU’s Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) is also from a different timeline. Whether the new movie will make the pinballing universes more or less chaotic remains to be seen.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is directed by Sam Raimi, who helmed the original 2000s Spider-Man movies. Keep reading as we break down the “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” cast and what it all means for the MCU going forward.
Jay Maidment
Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch is once again reprising his role as the neurosurgeon turned sorcerer. From the trailers, it looks like he’s dealing with the consequences of what went down in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
Jay Maidment
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch
Elizabeth Olsen will appear as Wanda Maximoff, who viewers last saw after the events of “WandaVision.” She was reeling from the loss of Vision and their two children, as well as the hex she placed on Westview.
Jay Maidment
Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez
Xochitl Gomez will appear as America Chavez, a character from the comics who’s new to the MCU. Chavez can travel between dimensions by punching open doors with her fists. In the comics, she has a close relationship with Kate Bishop, who Hailee Steinfeld played in “Hawkeye.” America is a lesbian, and she is the first Latinx LGBTQ+ Marvel character to headline their own series.
JAY MAIDMENT
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo
Chiwetel Ejiofor is returning to the franchise as Baron Mordo. Mordo and Strange were once friends but are now enemies. In the new movie, Mordo is hunting other sorcerers.
Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios.
Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer
Rachel McAdams portrayed Christine Palmer – a professional colleague and lover of Dr. Strange – in the first film. At the end of the first movie, Strange decides they can’t be together. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” will deal with the repercussions of that choice.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Benedict Wong as Wong
Like Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong has played Wong in stories across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the new film, Wong will once again be right at Dr. Strange’s side.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne as Billy and Tommy Maximoff
In “WandaVision,” Wanda gives birth to two sons, Billy and Tommy. By the end of the series, they are gone, but she’s intent on getting them back. It seems she’s successful, since the pair will appear in this new movie.
Getty / Kevin Winter
Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier aka Professor X
Technically, Patrick Stewart’s role in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is undisclosed. But Stewart played Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men, in the Fox X-Men franchise for years, and Disney’s 2019 acquisition of Fox opened the door to merge the two universes. Evan Peters kind of started the process on “WandaVision,” but featuring Professor X here would throw the gates wide open.
In a new trailer, a shot of a yellow wheelchair, similar to the one Professor X used in the X-Men cartoons, seemed to confirm that Stewart will definitely be playing his old role.
Getty / Mike Marsland
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter aka Captain Carter
In the MCU, Peggy Carter is an agent who meets Captain America during World War II and becomes one of the first leaders of S.H.I.E.L.D. But in Marvel’s “What If…?” Disney+ series, one episode imagined a world where Peggy took the supersoldier serum and became Captain Carter. Her shield featured a Union Jack shield instead of Captain America’s star.
In a new trailer, that shield is clearly visible. It seems that Captain Carter will definitely be in the movie, and it seems likely that Hayley Atwell will reprise her role again.
