SPOILER ALERT: This story contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesshas opened to a massive box office return, making as much in one day as the 2016 film made over the course of its opening weekend. Very much hyped up to be more than just a standardDoctor Strangesequel, the latest entry from the MCU expands on plot points laid out inWandaVision,Loki,What If…?, andSpider-Man: No Way Hometo tell a massive epic that spans the MCU and beyond. Much of the movie has been kept a secret in its marketing, and now that the film is released there is plenty to talk about. Yet just because this film has paid off plot points from four other MCU entries, it doesn’t mean there still aren’t more stories to tell.
As with all MCU movies, the film tells its own story while also laying the groundwork for future films with plot threads, hints of dialogue, and characters that future writers and directors can expand upon. Over the course of a two-hour runtime (an anomaly in the usually much-lengtheir MCU),Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesshints at the MCU’s future with new characters, super teams, and even a possible event that the franchise is eventually building to. Here are all the major setups for the future of the MCU inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
InDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’end credits sequence, Doctor Strange is confronted by a mysterious woman in purple who informs him his actions have caused an incursion and that she is going to make him fix it, before she opens a portal to The Dark Dimension which was seen in the previousDoctor Strangefilm. The character is never named, but comics readers will know her as Clea, and Marvel Studios has castMad Max: Fury RoadstarCharlize Theron to play the role.
In the comics, Clea is a resident of the Dark Dimension and the daughter of a higher-dimensional being named Umar, and the niece of Dormammu, the villain from the first film. Clea is typically portrayed as Doctor Strange’s primary love interest and eventually his wife. With so much ofDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessfeaturing Stephen Strange learning to let go of Christine and open his heart up, he could now be open to finding new love with Clea. With how angry she appears at him, the relationship will certainly take some time to grow. Recently, Clea became the Sorcerer’s Supreme after Doctor Strange died in the comics hinting that Charlize Theron could stick around as Clea in the MCU for some time and possibly take over the franchise when Benedict Cumberbatch is done.
Young Avengers
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessintroduced audiences toAmerica Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez), a young girl with the ability to create portals across the multiverse. The film sees Stephen Strange save her, and she begins training as an apprentice sorcerer at Kamar-Taj. This opens the door for America Chavez to appear in later MCU projects and further lends credence to the idea that Marvel Studios is building up to the Young Avengers. A growing plot thread throughout the MCU Phase 4 has been the introduction of younger heroes. Cassie Lang has been featured in theAnt-Manmovies and will likely suit up as Stature inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,The Falcon and Winter Soldierfeatured Elijah Bradley, who becomes Patriot, andHawkeyeintroducedKate Bishop to the MCU.
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Meanwhile, Wanda’s twin sons, Billy and Tommy, grow up to become The Young Avengers members Wiccan and Speed, and while they reside in another universe, with America Chavez’s powers she could easily help recruit them to the team. That also opens the door for Kid Loki, who was a member of the Young Avengers in the comics and was seen residing in The Void inLoki. With the coming threat of Kang the Conqueror, whose young version was the Young Avenger Iron Lad, it appears the MCU team could be a multiversal group of young heroes.
The Fantastic Four
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessoffered the first film appearance by a member of The Fantastic Four since Disney acquired Fox and gained the film rights back to the character in the form of Mr. Fantastic (John Krasinski). While the version of Mr. Fantastic is not a resident of the MCU but instead Earth 838, it is the first hint at the Fantastic Four joining the franchise. This Reed makes references to his wife, Susan Storm (aka the Invisible Woman) as well as his two children Franklin and Valeria Richards.
It is currently unclear ifKrasinski will reprise his role as Mr. Fantasticin the MCU proper, or if it was a fun cameo with another actor taking on the role in the main franchise. It does indicate that Marvel Studios is getting audiences ready and excited for the eventual arrival of the Fantastic Four as the studio nowlooks for a new director.
Marvel Studios has dropped a few minor hints at the largerX-Menfranchise, with the country of Madripoor featured inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. However, the introduction of Professor X (Patrick Stewart) as a member of the Illuminati marks the first X-Men appearance in an MCU film. The version who resides on Earth 838 is an amalgamation of the film versions that Patrick Stewart played and the animated series, as seen by the green vest and gold hoverchair.
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It was recently announced that Marvel was developing a revival ofX-Men: The Animated SeriestitledX-Men ‘97, and they could have a place in the Marvel multiverse ashinted by the writer. While there are no different references or setup to the mutants or X-Men in the MCU, the fact that the film introduces a version of Professor X indicates big things on the arrival.
The Inhumans
One surprise cameo inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesswas the presence of the Inhuman king Black Bolt. While a member of the Illuminati in the pages of Marvel Comics, the MCU has been hesitant to feature the Inhumans ever since the poor reaction to the 2017 series on ABC. However, not only did the recent MCU feature the Inhuman king Black Bolt but brought back actor Anson Mount to play the role.
It originally seemed like the Inhumans were not going to be referenced in the MCU at all, given that the studio had changed thepowers and origins of Kamala Khanahead of the upcomingMs. Marvelseries to avoid the Inhuman connection. Yet their acknowledgment inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessopens a few interesting doors. It could indicate that theInhumansseries are part of the MCU continuity, similar to how Charlie Cox’s return as Daredevil inSpider-Man: No Way Homeand Vincent D’onofrio’s Kingpin showing up inHawkeyeimplies a connection to theDefenders Sagaseries.
With the Inhumans being a result of genetic experimentation on early human life by the Kree, the characters could appear in the upcoming filmThe Marvels, which will unite Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, and likely feature a Kree-centric story. The Inhumans made their Marvel Comics debut in the pages ofThe Fantastic Four,so they could also appear in their film. Before, it seemed like the Inhumans would be forgotten about, yet now the door is open for anything.
Secret Wars
When confronted by the Illuminati, Doctor Strange is informed that his Earth 838 destroyed an entire universe in an attempt to stop Thanos. Mr. Fantastic drops the word ‘incursion,’ which is also used by Clea at the end of the film. Readers of Marvel Comics know that when the word incursion is mentioned alongside a Multiverse, big things are in store.
In 2013, Marvel comics relaunched theNew Avengerscomic series which focused on the Illuminati trying to prevent the destruction of the multiverse as multiple realities are destroying each other in events called incursions. Despite the Illumanit’s best attempts to stop the incursions, they are powerless till only two universes remain. When both are destroyed, the world is reassembled using different parts of various realities to form a new reality, Battleworld. This becomes the setting for the event seriesSecret Wars.
While Phase 1 to Phase 3 were building up to the fight against Thanos and an adaptation ofThe Infinity Gauntlet, Phase 4 and beyond could bebuilding up toSecret Wars. Marvel Studios’ emphasis on the Multiverse, and bringing back past incarnations of characters from prior movies, seems to indicate that all roads lead toSecret Wars. In the comics, The Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom, and Doctor Strange were all major parts of the story, and it appears Marvel Studios is getting their pieces into place. This could allow various Marvel multiverses to collide and, in the end, allow Marvel Studios to do a soft reboot of the franchise.Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessmay have hinted at the MCU’s ending, and a new beginning, with just a one-word reference.
