Doctor Strange will return in a mind-bending sequel that tackles the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most ambitious quest yet, after six years as the Earth’s most powerful sorcerer (for now), respected member of The Avengers, and opponent to all cosmic dangers. Doctor Strange may or may not have a new foe in the Scarlet Witch, whose powers rival his own, now that the multiverse has been cracked open. Doctor Strange‘s little miscalculation with his spell in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘ imperiled the world’s destiny, while Wanda Maximoff‘s grief and chaotic magic took shape in ‘WandaVision.’
There’s a lot to comprehend in the ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ teaser, especially with the film boasting celebrity appearances to rival ‘No Way Home.’ Plus, because the narrative is set in the aftermath of many MCU initiatives, things will become a little convoluted plot-wise. We thought it would be best to compile a list of MCU movies and television episodes to assist you to catch up on all you need to know before heading to the theater on May 6. The journey to the finish is long, but it is worthwhile.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Wanda Maximoff is a mystery to all of us. No, since we’ve only seen a fraction of what she’s capable of, and not even Wanda understands the full scope of her ability. Returning to Wanda’s genesis tale in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ the film that introduced the Maximoff twins — Wanda and her brother Pietro nicknamed Quicksilver — is a great way to start ‘Doctor Strange‘ week (Aaron-Taylor Johnson). HYDRA used the Mind Stone on the twins, giving them their abilities: Wanda gained telekinesis, energy manipulation, and telepathic abilities, while Pietro gained superhuman speed and agility. Wanda and Pietro eventually join the Avengers in battle (Pietro even sacrifices himself to save Clint Barton), leading to the former ripping Ultron’s heart out (literally). Wanda’s dark side is barely hinted at in this film, but ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ is anticipated to reveal it fully. Watching the Scarlet Witch‘s debut appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a great way to get ready for ‘Multiverse of Madness!’
Doctor Strange (2016)
‘Doctor Strange,’ directed by Scott Derrickson, is the origin narrative for Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), an arrogant, world-famous physician whose hands are rendered incapable of surgery due to an accident. In pursuit of healing, Stephen visits the Ancient One in Kamar-Taj, a mystical enclave that also serves as a battleground for otherworldly forces. Stephen studies the magical arts to become a sorcerer and finally settles in New York City’s Sanctum Sanctorum. He continues to protect the environment and train with Wong (Benedict Wong). We’ve seen Doctor Strange in a few other films since this one, but For the first time in six years, Cumberbatch will reunite with returning actors Rachel McAdams (Christine Palmer) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Baron Mordo) in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’ Refreshing your memory by viewing ‘Doctor Strange‘ is a smart option if you want to see how these characters interact.
Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame
The terrible events of these films are difficult to forget, so allow me to refresh your memory: In ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ Doctor Strange and Wanda Maximoff are often seen in their early heroic years when the wizard has finally landed in the Sanctum Sanctorum when Wanda has found true love with Vision.
Thanos soon begins carrying out his genocidal plans, and The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy team together to stop him from gathering the all-powerful Infinity Stones on his goal to exterminate half of all life in the cosmos, which he eventually succeeds in achieving. However, ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ highlights Doctor Strange and Wanda‘s talents, as well as a deranged Wanda who is overcome by sadness. It’s also worth noting that both Doctor Strange and Wanda vanished during the blip, only to reappear in ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ for the climactic fight. We watch an outraged, mourning Wanda fight Thanos, and she comes close to defeating him on her alone, demonstrating her strength. Wanda appears to accept Vision’s death at the end of the film, but she’s been through too much and has sentiments she is used to bottling up. Wanda‘s enormous anguish is depicted in both films, which is worth meditating on before ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ is released.
WandaVision (2021)
In Disney’s first-ever Marvel Studios-produced limited series, Wanda’s narrative is finally revealed, kicking off Phase 4 of the MCU. Through the prism of many notable comedies, the nine-part series chronicles the narrative of Wanda and Vision as they enjoy a pleasant suburban existence in the town of Westview, New Jersey. However, there’s something unsettling about the story: Vision’s death isn’t questioned, and neither are the events of the blip, leaving the spectator with the feeling that something is wrong.
‘WandaVision‘ should be at the top of your must-see list since it delves into Wanda’s childhood, family, the origins of her abilities, and her journey to becoming the Scarlet Witch, the sorceress who, according to prophesy, would destroy the world. Wanda’s the twin Billy and Tommy (who will be featured in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘), as well as White Vision, are introduced in the series, and Wanda’s superhero status is elevated to Scarlet Witch (complete with a new outfit) in the finale, making the events of ‘WandaVision‘ crucial. If you haven’t already, watch it!
What If… ? (2021)
Do you remember ‘Loki?‘ While there’s no need to watch, you should be aware that the series wrapped up with the release of an unmanageable universe with substitute histories. ‘What If…?’ expands on this idea by re-enacting noteworthy events in the MCU and disclosing how choices create a universe with endless possibilities. The cinematic anthology presently has 9 episodes, however, there is a handful worth seeing.
Episode 1 is notable due to the fact that Captain Carter is expected to appear in the film. Episodes 4 and Episode 5 are also important to the events of ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ which features Evil Strange and is a Marvel Zombies modification. While Evil Strange and a zombified Wanda appear in the trailer for the future story, as shown in ‘What If…?’ – Without a shadow of a doubt, an association show ups between the two flicks, and watching ‘What If…?’ before seeing ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ will definitely help you grasp the issue better.
Spider-Man No Way Home (2021)
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘ doesn’t need an explanation: the emotional weight, nostalgia, and plot make it possibly one of the best MCU flicks. Its plot is crucial to ‘Doctor Strange in the Universe of Madness,‘ which takes place after the multiverse has been ripped open. After a spell intended to make the world forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man fails, Doctor Strange and Spidey join forces to return the web-greatest slinger’s foes to their own realities. To aid Peter and subsequently cure the harm of his nonfunctional spell, the sorcerer breaches several laws, which will undoubtedly have devastating consequences in the MCU’s future. Those who breach the rules must pay the price, as Mordo told Stephen in ‘Doctor Strange‘ (2016). It appears that his goals will be realized in the shape of a multiversal conflict.
The titles on this list help to establish the scene for the occurrences of ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’ Nonetheless, if you have the time, I highly recommend ‘Loki‘ since it explains how time and the multiverse function in this MCU period. Professor X (Patrick Stewart) appears in the ‘Multiverse of Madness‘ teaser, with the predominant notion being his connection to the Illuminati, a covert society of heroes that includes Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Mr. Fantastic, and the Black Panther, among others. So, watching ‘X-Men‘ could be beneficial in the event that the X-Men appear. Maybe ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ will eventually give us the X-Men and MCU crossover we deserve, if the MCU can return Spider-Man from other realms.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently storming in worldwide cinemas.
