Marvel Studios’ next offering promises to be one of its most unique movies to date, as Doctor Strange will bring powers and elements that previous films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe barely hinted at. But it’s not just magic the film will introduce – it will also pave the way for the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.
Director Scott Derrickson promises new worlds and new dimensions starting with the Sorcerer Supreme’s feature film. “I think that the short answer is this is the movie where Marvel goes full weird,” says Derrickson in a post-San Diego Comic-con panel interview with ComicBook.com. “That full weirdness is written in the Ditko images, the Jack Kirby images, the early Doctor Strange comic book panels that are still to this day so mind blowing.”
He cites the ground-breaking influence the first Doctor Strange comic had on the Marvel comics universe. “What the comics did was, they brought with Doctor Strange an extra dimension into psychadelia, mysticism, and spirituality and all these very 60’s things and broke open the Marvel comic book universe into the Marvel multiverse,” said Derrickson. “I think ‘Doctor Strange’ is going to be the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. It’s really serving the same function that the comic did.”
“Even though it was a weird aberration as a comic book, I think it was a real linchpin in the comics. It ended up being decades of new stories and I think this movie will do the same thing,” he adds.
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch further emphasized the unique aspect the origin film will add to the MCU, saying, “What really opens up in this [movie] is literally other dimensions.” Watch his interview here:
The Marvel Universe, which is the primary timeline of Marvel Comics (also called Earth-616), is only one of many such timelines and universes in the greater multiverse. This concept was introduced in the Captain Britain comics, where it was discovered that each universe within the multiverse is protected against mystical threats by a Captain Britain and a Sorcerer Supreme, which for Earth-616 is Doctor Strange.
Since being teased in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Doctor Strange has been heavily anticipated for its introduction of magic as a major force to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Previous instances of magical powers were relatively minor, such as Thor’s being explained off as highly advanced science, and Scarlet Witch’s numerous abilities never fully discussed.
Trailers for the film have already showcased Inception-like warps and folds in reality as well as teleportation, which make alternate dimensions only one step away from being crossed. It will be exciting to see the new worlds that Marvel can take us to in future films.
Doctor Strange will be materializing in cinemas on November 4, 2016.
