There’s no denying thatDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessis the most anticipated Marvel Studios film of the year. And with a new piece of fan art, an interesting connection is made between the newDoctor Strangeand the classic Marvel comicHouse of M.
BeforeDoctor Strange 2, Wanda Maximoff recently became a fan favorite MCU character with herhit seriesWandaVision.The series took elements fromHouse of M, while also serving as a clever subversion of old sitcoms. Each episode spoofed a different decade’s style of sitcom, while still moving a tense and enigmatic storyline forward. The series was an overwhelming success, and is still up there withThe Mandalorianas one of Disney Plus' most watched shows.
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The fan art byCésardepictsElizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witchas fading away into a pile of pixels, a direct callback to a classic panel inHouse of M. This is relevant toMultiverse of Madnessbecause they both involve power trips from Scarlet Witch, as she tries to do the right thing but inevitably fails. Details surrounding Scarlet Witch’s role remain a mystery, as earlier rumors suggested she would be an antagonist inDoctor Strange 2, but so far the previews suggest she will be allied to the titular sorcerer.
In addition to following the character arcs of the originalDoctor Strange,Multiverse of Madnesswill also further develop the crossover antics ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, and the darker path for Maximoff first seen inWandaVision.As exemplified in this quote from theDoctor Strange 2trailer, Wanda tells Stephen Strange, “you break the rules and become the hero. I do it and I become the enemy. That doesn’t seem fair.” This falls right in line with her character, as she never has malicious intent, but her powers are far too strong to ever control.
It’s safe to assume that inMultiverse of Madness, Wanda will inadvertently create another mess for Strange to clean up. The last person to do this of course wasPeter Parker inSpider-Man: No Way Home, and he ended up making a heartbreaking sacrifice to fix it. It’s unclear if Wanda will have to humble herself for the greater good, or go further down this darker path. Whatever the answer is, it’s certain to be the greatest drama currently in the MCU.
There’s many other questions this film raises. How will the X-Men possibly fit into this? What additions willSpider-Mandirector Sam Raimiadd to the project? Will Stephen Strange ever regain his title as Sorcerer Supreme? Fans will just have to find out whenMultiverse of Madnessfinally releases.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesswill release in theaters on May 6th, 2022.
