Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

• Core Identity: A mind-bending, horror-infused journey across parallel realities, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness pits Doctor Stephen Strange against a corrupted Scarlet Witch in a desperate chase to protect a reality-hopping teenager and prevent the catastrophic collapse of the multiverse.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: The film serves as a critical linchpin in the MCU's Multiverse Saga, directly building upon the events of `wandavision`, `Loki`, and `_no_way_home`. It formally introduces core multiversal concepts like Incursions, alternate Earth designations (e.g., Earth-838), and the threat of variants to the cinematic universe. the_multiverse.
• Primary Impact: Its most significant influence is the full heel-turn of Wanda Maximoff into the Scarlet Witch, establishing her as a Nexus-level threat corrupted by the darkhold. The film also introduces america_chavez and her unique powers, kills off the members of an alternate-reality Illuminati, and ends with Doctor Strange developing a third eye, signaling his own corruption from using dark magic.
• Key Incarnations: As an MCU-exclusive event, it has no direct Earth-616 counterpart. However, it adapts and heavily re-contextualizes iconic comic book elements, such as the Darkhold's corrupting influence, the existence of the Illuminati, and the universe-destroying threat of Incursions, which were central to Jonathan Hickman's 2015 `Secret Wars` event. The film's version of these concepts is significantly streamlined for a cinematic narrative.

The journey of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to the screen was a multiversal trip in itself. Following the success of 2016's `Doctor Strange`, a sequel was inevitable. Director Scott Derrickson, who helmed the first film, was set to return, promising to lean into the “gothic and horror” elements of the character that he couldn't fully explore in the origin story. At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Marvel Studios President kevin_feige officially announced the film's title and confirmed it would be the MCU's “first scary movie.” However, in January 2020, Derrickson departed the project due to “creative differences,” though he remained an executive producer. This shocking turn of events opened the door for a legendary figure in comic book filmmaking: Sam Raimi. Raimi, celebrated for his iconic `Spider-Man Trilogy` (2002-2007) and his roots in the horror genre with films like The Evil Dead, was hired in February 2020. His involvement signaled a significant tonal shift, allowing the film to fully embrace its horror-tinged ambitions. The script underwent substantial changes. Michael Waldron, head writer for the `Loki` series, was brought on to rewrite the script, tasked with incorporating the fallout from both Loki and the Disney+ series `wandavision`. The latter's conclusion, which saw Wanda Maximoff fully embrace her Scarlet Witch persona and take possession of the Darkhold, became the central engine of the film's plot, elevating her from a potential ally to the primary antagonist. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant production delays and further rewrites. Extensive reshoots took place in late 2021, reportedly to add “more fun with the multiverse,” which included fleshing out the now-famous Illuminati sequence and adjusting character arcs. The final product, released in May 2022, is a unique blend of Marvel blockbuster spectacle and Sam Raimi's signature kinetic, horror-inflected filmmaking style.

The film opens in media res with a ponytailed variant of Doctor Strange, Defender Strange, and a young woman, America Chavez, fleeing a demonic entity in a surreal dimensional space. They are attempting to reach the Book of Vishanti, a powerful tome of benevolent magic. Overwhelmed, Defender Strange attempts to steal America's power—the ability to punch open star-shaped portals to any universe—believing she cannot control it. He is fatally wounded before he can succeed, and as he dies, a terrified America inadvertently opens a portal, pulling his corpse along with her into the prime MCU reality, designated Earth-616. On Earth-616, Doctor Stephen Strange attends the wedding of his former love, christine_palmer. The event is a poignant reminder of his personal sacrifices and loneliness. The reception is violently interrupted by the arrival of an interdimensional octopus-like demon, Gargantos. Strange, with the help of the Sorcerer Supreme, wong, defeats the creature, noticing its demonic runes. They rescue the onlooking America Chavez, who reveals that she is being hunted across the multiverse for her power. Realizing the runes are related to witchcraft, Strange seeks the help of the most powerful magic-user he knows: Wanda Maximoff. Strange finds Wanda in a secluded apple orchard, seemingly living a peaceful life after the events of `wandavision`. He explains America's plight, only to discover with dawning horror that Wanda is the one hunting her. The orchard is an illusion; Wanda has been corrupted by the Darkhold, which she has been using to find a universe where her magically-created sons, Billy and Tommy, are real. Her plan is to steal America's power to travel to that reality and live with them, killing any version of herself that stands in her way. She gives Strange an ultimatum: hand over America, or she will take her by force. Strange refuses, and he and Wong prepare the mystical sanctuary of Kamar-Taj for battle. Wanda, now fully unleashed as the formidable Scarlet Witch, assaults Kamar-Taj with devastating power. She uses forbidden magic to telepathically infiltrate the minds of the sorcerers, turning their own fears against them and decimating their defenses. To save America, Strange uses a spell to separate her from the group, but Wanda ultimately breaches the sanctuary's final defenses, slaughters many sorcerers, and captures America. In a last-ditch effort, Strange casts a spell that sends himself and America tumbling uncontrollably through the multiverse. They crash-land in a seemingly utopian, futuristic New York on Earth-838. In this reality, Strange died heroically defeating thanos. They seek help from this world's Sorcerer Supreme, Baron mordo, who appears friendly but drugs them and brings them before this reality's secret council of heroes: The Illuminati. The council consists of Mordo, Captain Carter (Peggy Carter as a Super-Soldier), Black Bolt (King of the Inhumans), Captain Marvel (Maria Rambeau), and Reed Richards (leader of the Fantastic Four). They reveal that their Doctor Strange became arrogant and reckless, using the Darkhold to defeat Thanos. This act caused an “Incursion”—a catastrophic collision of two universes that annihilated one of them. The Illuminati were forced to execute their Strange to prevent further damage. They deem the 616-Strange a similar threat and vote to keep him and America contained. Meanwhile, the 616-Scarlet Witch, trapped in her own universe, uses the Darkhold to perform a dangerous ritual called “Dreamwalking.” She possesses the body of her Earth-838 variant, a suburban mother living happily with her sons Billy and Tommy. The possessed Wanda-838 attacks the Illuminati headquarters. Despite their formidable power and confidence, the Scarlet Witch brutally and systematically murders them. She kills Black Bolt by removing his mouth, shreds Reed Richards into ribbons, bisects Captain Carter with her own shield, and crushes Captain Marvel under a statue. Strange and America escape with the help of the 838-Christine Palmer, a scientist working with the Illuminati. They race to find the Book of Vishanti, the Darkhold's antithesis, located in the gap junction between universes. They retrieve it, but the Scarlet Witch appears, destroys the book, and captures America. She throws Strange and Christine into a desolate, collapsing universe. In this destroyed reality, Strange confronts its sole survivor: Sinister Strange, a variant of himself utterly corrupted by his own universe's Darkhold. To defeat the Scarlet Witch, our Strange realizes he must use the 616-Darkhold. He battles and defeats his Sinister counterpart, then uses the forbidden tome to Dreamwalk into the corpse of Defender Strange, still buried back on Earth-616. The reanimated Zombie Strange confronts the Scarlet Witch at Mount Wundagore, the source of the Darkhold's dark magic and the location where Wanda is about to steal America's power. Zombie Strange encourages America to trust her own abilities. Finally gaining control, America does not fight Wanda but instead punches open a portal to Earth-838, showing Wanda the terrified reaction of Billy and Tommy to the monstrous version of their “mother” that is attacking them. Horrified by what she has become, Wanda realizes her quest has turned her into a villain. She chooses to destroy Mount Wundagore, bringing it down upon herself and seemingly destroying every copy of the Darkhold across the entire multiverse. Her fate is left ambiguous. Back on Earth-616, America begins her training at Kamar-Taj. Strange, having returned to his body, walks away seemingly unscathed, but a moment later he collapses in the street, screaming in agony as a third eye—a physical manifestation of his use of the Darkhold—violently bursts open on his forehead. In a mid-credits scene, Strange is confronted by Clea, a powerful sorceress from the Dark Dimension, who tells him his actions have caused an Incursion and recruits him to help fix it. In a post-credits scene, the Pizza Poppa vendor from Earth-838, whom Strange had enchanted to punch himself for weeks, is finally freed from the spell.

• The Corruption of Wanda Maximoff: The film's central tragedy is Wanda's transformation. It directly answers the question, “What happens after WandaVision?” by showing that her grief was not resolved, merely redirected. The Darkhold didn't create her pain; it weaponized it, whispering that her desires were not only attainable but justified. Her key turning point is the assault on Kamar-Taj, where she sheds any pretense of being a hero and embraces the destructive power of the Scarlet Witch. The film controversially positions her as a full-fledged villain, a stark contrast to her sympathetic portrayal in her series. Her entire arc revolves around the question, “Are you happy?”, a question posed by Strange that she cannot answer affirmatively, driving her to horrific lengths.
• Doctor Strange's Sacrifice and Hubris: Stephen Strange begins the film defined by his sacrifices. He gave up Christine to be a hero, and he believes this is the only way. His journey across the multiverse forces him to confront variants of himself who made different choices, often with catastrophic results. The Illuminati reveal that their Strange's hubris led to the destruction of a universe. Sinister Strange's loneliness led to his corruption. By the end, Strange learns a new lesson from America Chavez: trust others. Instead of taking her power (like Defender Strange tried) or controlling the situation himself, he empowers her to find the solution. However, his willingness to use the Darkhold—the very sin his 838-variant was executed for—shows he is still willing to break the rules, culminating in the physical mark of his corruption: the third eye.
• America Chavez and Finding Control: America's arc is about moving from being a passenger to a pilot. For her entire life, her power has been a curse, activating only in moments of extreme fear and transporting her to unfamiliar, dangerous places. She is a perpetual refugee. Her turning point is the final confrontation at Mount Wundagore. Empowered by Strange's trust, she finally takes control of her abilities not as a weapon to harm, but as a tool to show Wanda the truth. This act of empathy, not violence, saves the day.

• Introduction of Incursions: The film's most significant lore drop is the concept of Incursions. As explained by Reed Richards, an Incursion is a “collision between two universes that results in the destruction of one or both.” Prolonged presence of a being in a universe not their own can trigger one. This concept is directly lifted from Jonathan Hickman's epic Avengers and New Avengers runs leading to Secret Wars (2015). The mid-credits scene with Clea confirms that Strange's actions have triggered one, directly setting up a future, universe-level conflict that will likely be a cornerstone of the Multiverse Saga.
• The Fate of the Scarlet Witch: While Wanda appears to sacrifice herself to destroy the Darkhold's power at its source, a flash of red energy is seen just as the mountain collapses. In comics, the Scarlet Witch is notoriously difficult to kill and has returned from seemingly certain death multiple times. Her fate is deliberately ambiguous, leaving the door open for a future return, potentially in a redemptive arc.
• The Third Eye and a Darker Strange: The appearance of the third eye on Strange's forehead is a direct visual nod to his comic book counterpart's connection to the Eye of Agamotto's all-seeing power. In this context, however, it is a brand from using the Darkhold. This suggests a darker path for Doctor Strange, who may have to struggle against the book's corrupting influence, similar to how Wanda did. He is no longer just a protector of reality; he is now personally tainted by the very forces he fights.
• Establishment of Earth-838: The film is the first in the MCU to explicitly give a numerical designation to an alternate Earth visited on-screen, establishing a naming convention consistent with the comics. Earth-838 serves as a crucial world-building tool, proving that powerful hero teams like the Fantastic Four and the X-Men (represented by Patrick Stewart's Professor X) exist in other realities, whetting the audience's appetite for their eventual introduction in Earth-616.

• Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch): Cumberbatch portrays a more seasoned, yet more emotionally isolated, version of Strange. He is the reluctant guardian of the multiverse, forced to confront his own arrogance and loneliness through the mirrors of his variants. The performance deftly balances the character's signature wit with a profound weariness and a growing desperation that leads him to break his own rules.
• Wanda Maximoff / The Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen): Olsen's performance is widely considered a highlight of the film. She delivers a terrifying, yet deeply tragic, portrayal of a woman consumed by grief and corrupted by immense power. Building directly on her Emmy-nominated work in `wandavision`, Olsen masterfully conveys Wanda's pain, righteous fury, and the chilling single-mindedness of a mother trying to reclaim her children, no matter the cost. Her shift from sympathetic protagonist to ruthless antagonist is the film's emotional and narrative core.
• America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez): Gomez brings a youthful energy and vulnerability to the role of America Chavez. As the “MacGuffin” being chased, she grounds the multiversal chaos with a relatable human story of a lost child searching for her parents and a place to belong. Her dynamic with Strange evolves from scared protectee to a capable, budding hero who ultimately holds the key to saving the day through empathy.
• Wong (Benedict Wong): As the Sorcerer Supreme, Wong provides both gravitas and moments of levity. He represents order and responsibility, constantly trying to rein in Strange's more impulsive tendencies. His stand at Kamar-Taj showcases his leadership and bravery, solidifying his position as a pillar of the MCU's mystical corner.
• Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams): McAdams plays two roles: the Earth-616 Christine who has moved on and married someone else, and the Earth-838 variant who is a multiversal expert for the Illuminati. The latter provides Strange with a crucial intellectual and emotional foil, allowing him to finally gain closure and apologize for how his life as a hero impacted their relationship.

The introduction of the Illuminati was one of the film's most talked-about sequences, providing a series of fan-service cameos that were swiftly and brutally subverted.

• Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor): The Sorcerer Supreme of Earth-838 and the group's gatekeeper. Unlike his 616-counterpart who despises Strange for breaking natural law, this Mordo's animosity stems from his reality's Strange causing an Incursion.
• Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell): A variant of Peggy Carter who received the Super-Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rogers. First introduced in the animated series `What If...?`, this was her first live-action appearance, confirming that variants from that show can exist in the live-action multiverse.
• Black Bolt (Anson Mount): The King of the Inhumans, whose voice can level mountains. Mount reprised his role from the short-lived and poorly received `Inhumans` TV series, a surprising inclusion that served as a nod to that corner of Marvel's live-action history.
• Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch): In this reality, Maria Rambeau, Carol Danvers' best friend, became Captain Marvel. This fulfills the potential of her character and provides a powerful, alternate take on the hero.
• Reed Richards (John Krasinski): The leader of the Fantastic Four. Krasinski's casting was the fulfillment of years of fan campaigns, making his shocking and gruesome death at the hands of Wanda all the more impactful.
• Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart): Stewart reprised his iconic role as the leader of the x-men, but with visual cues (his yellow hoverchair) taken directly from `_the_animated_series`. His appearance was the first official integration of a character from the Fox X-Men films into an MCU project, albeit as a variant.

While not a direct adaptation of any single storyline, Multiverse of Madness is a potent cocktail of ideas and visuals drawn from decades of Marvel Comics. It functions as a cinematic remix of several major concepts.

• In the Comics (Earth-616): The Darkhold, also known as the Book of Sins, is an ancient grimoire of dark magic created by the Elder God chthon. It is a source of immense power but invariably corrupts anyone who uses it, twisting their desires into monstrous forms. Its influence has been at the center of many supernatural Marvel stories, often tied to werewolves, vampires, and especially Wanda Maximoff's chaos magic.
• In the MCU: The film solidifies the Darkhold's corrupting influence as seen in both `Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.` and `wandavision`. It introduces Mount Wundagore as its physical source and the location of its author's throne, a concept pulled directly from the comics where Wundagore is Chthon's prison and the birthplace of Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. The MCU's major change is Wanda's decision and apparent ability to destroy every copy of the book across the multiverse, an act of immense power.

• In the Comics (Earth-616): The Illuminati was a secret cabal of the most intelligent and influential heroes in the world, formed by Iron Man after the kree-skrull_war. The founding members were Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Black Bolt, Doctor Strange, and Professor X. They worked behind the scenes to manipulate events and proactively neutralize global threats, often with morally gray methods. Their decision to exile the hulk from Earth led directly to the events of `world_war_hulk`, and their attempts to stop the Incursions ultimately failed, leading to the collapse of the multiverse in `Secret Wars`.
• In the MCU (Earth-838): The film's version is a public-facing, established team rather than a secret cabal. Their lineup is different, featuring Captain Carter and Captain Marvel in place of Iron Man and Namor. Their primary function seems to be judging multiversal threats. Crucially, their origin and demise are contained within a single sequence. They exist in the film primarily to establish the stakes and demonstrate the overwhelming power of the Scarlet Witch, serving as a shocking subversion of audience expectations.

• In the Comics (Earth-616): The concept of Incursions was the central storyline of Jonathan Hickman's tenure on Avengers and New Avengers from 2012-2015. It was a multiversal cancer where parallel Earths would drift into one another. If one Earth was not destroyed within a short window, both universes would be annihilated. The Illuminati were forced to build planet-killing weapons and destroy other Earths to save their own, a series of soul-crushing decisions that tore the hero community apart. This all culminated in the final Incursion and the events of Secret Wars, where the entire multiverse was destroyed and temporarily remade by doctor_doom.
• In the MCU: The film introduces a heavily simplified version of this concept. It establishes that Incursions can be caused by the “footprint” of a multiversal traveler or through extensive use of the Darkhold's Dreamwalking. The consequence—the destruction of one or both universes—remains the same. The introduction of this term and Clea's warning in the mid-credits scene is a clear and deliberate setup for a future adaptation of the Secret Wars storyline, which has been announced as the conclusion to the Multiverse Saga.

The film's title is a promise, and it delivers by introducing several key variants of established characters.

• Defender Strange: The film's opening casualty. This variant sports a comic-accurate costume and a ponytail. He is portrayed as more pragmatic and ruthless than the 616-Strange, willing to kill a teenager to save the multiverse. His corpse is later used as a vessel for Dreamwalking, becoming “Zombie Strange.”
• Sinister Strange: A resident of a universe destroyed by an Incursion he caused. This variant was so obsessed with finding a reality where he could be with Christine that he used his universe's Darkhold to kill countless other versions of himself. He is a dark reflection of 616-Strange's own grief and arrogance, showcasing the destructive path he could have taken. He possesses a third eye from his Darkhold use, foreshadowing the 616-Strange's fate.
• Wanda Maximoff (Earth-838): This variant is not a superhero. She is a normal suburban mother living a happy, peaceful life with her sons, Billy and Tommy. She represents the idyllic life that the 616-Wanda desperately craves and is willing to kill for. She becomes a puppet for the Scarlet Witch's Dreamwalking spell and is horrified when her sons recoil in fear from her possessed body.
• Christine Palmer (Earth-838): A brilliant scientist working for the Baxter Foundation and an expert on the multiverse. She provides key exposition and serves as a means for 616-Strange to achieve emotional closure, as he is able to have a final, honest conversation with a version of the woman he loves.

• doctor_strange
• scarlet_witch
• the_multiverse
• wandavision
• the_illuminati
• darkhold
• america_chavez
• sam_raimi
• secret_wars_(2015)

^{1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)}