73 Fun Facts About Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Who directed Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness?

Sam Raimi had not made a superhero film since 2007: he said the online backlash to his last one made the genre hard to face, until his agent rang to say Marvel needed a director.

Which director of the 2016 Doctor Strange left its sequel in January 2020 citing creative differences?

Scott Derrickson parted with Marvel amicably and stayed on as an executive producer, then went straight on to direct the horror film The Black Phone.

Which actor returns as Karl Mordo, now a member of Earth-838's Illuminati?

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a different Mordo from the one who turned on his fellow sorcerers in 2016: an early version had Wanda behead that original Mordo, but the scene was dropped.

Who plays America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness?

Xochitl Gomez was 14 when she was cast, and the shoot clashed with The Baby-Sitters Club, so Netflix recast her role as Dawn for its second season.

How does America Chavez travel between universes?

America Chavez travels between universes by punching open star-shaped doorways, a power she cannot control at first: it fires when she is frightened, which is how the opening chase drops her into New York.

Which Disney+ series ends with Multiverse of Madness's future villain studying the Darkhold?

WandaVision was shot back-to-back with the film, and Elizabeth Olsen asked for script changes so the sequel would move her character forward rather than repeat beats from the series.

Earth-838's statue of its dead Strange honours him as the hero who died defeating which villain?

Thanos was beaten on Earth-838, but the statue hides a lie: the Illuminati killed their own Strange for the damage he had done and told the world he died a hero.

What does Wanda use the Darkhold to do, taking over her counterpart in another universe?

Dreamwalk lets a sorcerer puppeteer an alternate self. Earth-838's Mordo calls it a desecration of reality, yet Strange later uses it himself to inhabit a corpse.

In Multiverse of Madness, which mountain is the source of the Darkhold's power?

Mount Wundagore's walls bear the spells the Darkhold was copied from; Wanda finally brings the mountain down on herself, destroying every copy of the book across the multiverse.

Who outranks Strange as Earth-616's Sorcerer Supreme in Multiverse of Madness?

Wong took the title during Strange's five-year absence, and reminds him in mid-battle that custom demands a bow to the Sorcerer Supreme.

Which Illuminati member executed Earth-838's version of Doctor Strange?

Black Bolt executed Earth-838's Strange with a whispered apology. Wanda later erases Black Bolt's mouth, so his own trapped voice bursts his skull.

Which actor plays Reed Richards in the Illuminati scene?

John Krasinski had been fans' pick for Reed Richards for years. Wanda shreds his version to pieces, and when the Fantastic Four got their own film in 2025 the part went to Pedro Pascal.

In one universe they tumble through, Strange and America Chavez are briefly turned into what?

Paint is what they become for a moment. America later warns that it is a universe to avoid because it is really hard to eat there, one of 72 she had crossed before this trip.

Which actor's Charles Xavier appears, combining his Fox X-Men films with the 1990s animated series?

Patrick Stewart first claimed the voice in the trailer was an impersonator's, then admitted it was his. His Xavier glides in on the cartoon's hoverchair and dies when Wanda snaps his neck.

Which Illuminati member had Hayley Atwell previously voiced in What If...?

Captain Carter is the super-soldier Peggy Carter of What If...?, voiced by Hayley Atwell in the animated series before she played the live-action Earth-838 version, whom Wanda bisects with her own shield.

Lashana Lynch's Illuminati member is an alternate version of which character?

Maria Rambeau as Captain Marvel is the Earth-838 twist on the pilot Lashana Lynch played in Captain Marvel, where her friend Carol Danvers got the powers instead; here Wanda crushes her under a falling statue.

Anson Mount reprises his Illuminati role from which short-lived Marvel TV series?

Inhumans lasted only eight episodes on ABC in 2017. Five years on, Mount said a call from Marvel's Kevin Feige asking him back was one of the most unexpected of his life.

Which film, whose swaggering soldiers get slaughtered, was the writer's model for Wanda killing the Illuminati?

Aliens spends its first act showing how tough its space marines are, then wipes them out; the writer wanted the Illuminati's fall to make Wanda as frightening as the xenomorphs.

Which comics Illuminati member was left out because Ryan Coogler had reserved him for Wakanda Forever?

Namor is an original member of the comics' Illuminati, but Coogler had asked Marvel as far back as post-production on the first Black Panther to make sure no one else used him.

The one-eyed tentacled monster resembling Shuma-Gorath is called what, for rights reasons?

Gargantos is a name borrowed from an older Marvel sea monster: 'Shuma-Gorath' comes from a Robert E. Howard story, and the company that owns his Conan and Kull worlds holds the rights.

What physical change does Strange develop at the end of the film as a consequence of using the Darkhold?

A third eye was a late addition: the writer felt the ending was too happy for a film this dark and wanted Strange to pay for possessing a corpse, in the way horror films close on a final twist.

Which character does Charlize Theron introduce in the mid-credits scene?

Clea, played by Charlize Theron, appears in the mid-credits scene to summon Strange into the Dark Dimension; in the comics she is the niece of Dormammu and Strange's wife.

Which actor cameos in Multiverse of Madness as the Earth-838 street vendor Pizza Poppa?

Bruce Campbell, a fixture of the director's films, plays the vendor whose own fist pummels him after Strange hexes it; he reappears after the credits when the spell finally wears off.

Which surgeon and former Strange colleague does Michael Stuhlbarg reprise?

Nicodemus West, the rival who operated on Strange's ruined hands in 2016, corners him at the wedding to ask whether there had really been no other path.

On Earth-838, which traffic-light colour tells New Yorkers to go?

Red means go on Earth-838, as Strange finds when he stops at the kerb; America answers with rule one of multiversal travel: you don't know anything.

Whole blocks of New York were built for Multiverse of Madness on a studio backlot in which country?

England is where Benedict Cumberbatch says an amazing amount of New York rose on the Longcross backlot in Surrey; a national lockdown then halted the shoot in January 2021.

Which composer replaced Michael Giacchino on Multiverse of Madness after its change of director?

Danny Elfman, the new director's regular composer, promised to refer back to Giacchino's Strange theme, much as he had played with Alan Silvestri's Avengers theme on an earlier Marvel sequel.

Which book do Strange and America seek as the benevolent counterpart to the Darkhold?

The Book of Vishanti gives a sorcerer whatever spell they need; Strange and America reach it in the Gap Junction between universes, only for Wanda to destroy it before they can use it.

The Illuminati execute their universe's Strange after he caused what by misusing the Darkhold?

An incursion is a collision between two universes that can destroy one or both; in the mid-credits scene a sorceress tells the main universe's Strange that he has now caused one too.

Which actress plays Christine Palmer in two universes in Multiverse of Madness?

Rachel McAdams was first reported to be out of the sequel, then confirmed as returning ten months later; her second Christine, an Earth-838 scientist, joins Strange and America on the run.

Multiverse of Madness's $187 million debut beat which film as its director's biggest opening weekend?

Spider-Man 3 opened to $151 million in 2007, yet its director said the backlash made him doubt he could face a superhero film again; this one opened to $187.4 million.

Saudi censors asked Disney to cut 12 seconds of Multiverse of Madness in which America Chavez mentions what?

Her two mothers come up in a single line. Saudi Arabia's film classifier insisted the film was not banned: Disney simply would not make the cut, so it never opened there.

A newspaper box for The Epoch Times in the trailer was blamed when Multiverse of Madness got no release in which country?

China never released it: the paper opposes the Chinese Communist Party, and the kiosk glimpsed in the film's opening minutes set off a backlash on Chinese social media.

At the wedding early in Multiverse of Madness, a fellow surgeon tells Strange he lost his brother during which event?

The Blip erased the surgeon himself for five years; he came back to find his brother and both his cats had died, and he holds Strange's choice responsible.

Earth-838's Charles Xavier arrives in a hoverchair of which colour, as in the 1990s X-Men cartoon?

Yellow matches the chair in X-Men: The Animated Series: the writer said this Xavier draws on the cartoon as well as the films, and the show's theme tune strikes up as he enters.

Multiverse of Madness, the 28th MCU film, was followed into cinemas two months later by which 29th?

Thor: Love and Thunder had held the May 6 date itself until October 2021, when Disney moved Doctor Strange into that slot and pushed Thor back to July.

Multiverse of Madness drew a B+ CinemaScore, the MCU's lowest audience grade since which earlier film's B?

Eternals drew its B the previous November. Deadline blamed the B+ and poor word of mouth when this film's takings fell 67% in its second weekend.

The first Multiverse of Madness teaser played after the credits of which film?

Spider-Man: No Way Home broke with Marvel habit by ending on a full teaser instead of a scene; it reached the internet days later, on December 22, 2021.

America Chavez comes from which home universe?

The Utopian Parallel is glimpsed in one sunlit memory: her first portal opened there by accident when she was a child, and she has been thrown from universe to universe ever since.

Earth-838's version of Christine Palmer works for which organisation?

The Baxter Foundation shares its name with the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building; Earth-838's Christine is a senior fellow there, and helps Strange and America slip into the space between universes.

Which minotaur-like Kamar-Taj student from R'Vaal is voiced by Adam Hugill?

Rintrah entered the comics in 1986 by bringing Strange his mended Cloak of Levitation, and later returned to become the sorcerer's apprentice.

Which robots guard the Illuminati's headquarters on Earth-838?

Ultron sentries are loyal guards on Earth-838, where the peacekeeping plan that produced a genocidal machine in the main universe seems to have worked; Wanda tears through them anyway.

How does Earth-838's Mordo capture Strange and America Chavez at the Sanctum?

With drugged tea: Mordo welcomes them as friends, pours a cup laced with the magical Sands of Nisanti, and delivers them unconscious to the Illuminati.

Which comics villain did the first Doctor Strange film's director say he wanted for the sequel?

Nightmare, who debuted in the very first Strange comic, was his pick in 2016; after the change of director the villain never appeared, and Wanda became the antagonist instead.

At which 2019 event did Marvel announce the title Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness?

San Diego Comic-Con heard the title in July 2019, when the film's first director promised the MCU's first scary movie; six months later he had left the project.

On Earth-838, which treat do Wanda's sons Billy and Tommy sing a song to ask for?

Ice cream is the prize: the boys promise in song to be good if they get some, a scene of family life that the film's villain watches through another woman's eyes.

Multiverse of Madness's writer drew on which animated series to make big sci-fi ideas 'digestible'?

Rick and Morty was his 'perfect training ground': each 22-minute episode had to sell a huge idea fast, then push it into the background so the audience could enjoy the adventure.

Multiverse of Madness's horror touches recall which earlier film series by its director?

The Evil Dead films made the director's name, and their slapstick returns here when a street vendor is hexed into hitting himself in the face.

Which film was its director's last feature before Multiverse of Madness?

Oz the Great and Powerful came out in 2013; he said he took the Marvel job partly out of curiosity about how films of that size had changed in the nine years since.

Kamar-Taj, the sorcerers' stronghold that Wanda lays waste to, stands in which country?

Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, hides the compound; before the attack the masters of the Hong Kong and London Sanctums arrive to help turn it into a fortress.

When Strange first visits Wanda for help, what is she tending, before it proves to be an illusion?

An apple orchard, sweet-smelling and entirely false: Wanda insists it is all very real, then lets the conjured farm fall away once Strange sees through her.

To prove who he is to a corrupted variant of himself, Strange recalls whose death on a frozen lake?

His sister's: Donna fell through the ice when they were children and he could not save her, a grief the two men share and, they agree, never talk about.

Multiverse of Madness's orchestral score was recorded at which studio?

Abbey Road Studios hosted the orchestra while the director supervised remotely from Los Angeles, juggling the score, dialogue re-recording and the sound mix at once.

In Multiverse of Madness, the Darkhold is also known by which ominous name?

The Book of the Damned is said to corrupt everyone who touches it; the writer imagined it whispering in Wanda's ear that her sons were out there to be taken.

The Illuminati's Xavier repeats a line of dialogue from which X-Men film?

X-Men: Days of Future Past gave him the line that someone who stumbles and loses their way is not lost forever: first said to his younger self, here said in Strange's defence.

Which star did fans wrongly expect to cameo as an alternate Iron Man in Multiverse of Madness?

Tom Cruise had been linked to Iron Man in the 1990s; the writer liked the idea and pitched it himself, but Cruise was busy shooting Mission: Impossible films and, the writer believes, was never asked.

Which Fox-era character did Multiverse of Madness's writer discuss adding before deciding it wasn't 'the right place'?

Deadpool was talked about, the writer said, but this was not the right place for him; Ryan Reynolds's mercenary reached the MCU two years later in Deadpool & Wolverine.

In Multiverse of Madness, which demon first carved the Darkhold's spells into a mountain tomb?

Chthon is named as the first demon: eons ago he carved his dark magic into the tomb, so the book everyone has been fighting over turns out to be only a copy.

In Multiverse of Madness, which Disney animated classic plays on television in Wanda's Earth-838 home?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the boys' second cartoon: they are first seen watching Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the character whose loss to Universal led Walt Disney to create Mickey Mouse.

For Multiverse of Madness, Elizabeth Olsen returned Wanda's accent to that of which fictional homeland?

Sokovia's sound had faded since Civil War, whose directors asked for a softer accent; Olsen said Wanda goes back here to a voice that is more true to her.

A 2022 commercial featuring the Cloak of Levitation promoted which laundry detergent?

Tide saves the day in the ad when the Cloak of Levitation is smeared with a tuna melt, the sandwich Strange's colleague says he wouldn't say no to in Avengers: Infinity War.

Multiverse of Madness won Movie of 2022 at which fan-voted awards show?

The People's Choice Awards put it ahead of rivals that had out-grossed it that year, and gave Elizabeth Olsen two star prizes for playing its villain.

At the end of Multiverse of Madness, which broken keepsake does Strange finally repair?

His watch, an engraved Jaeger-LeCoultre given to him by the woman he lost, has been cracked all film; mending it is the story's sign that he has made peace with losing her.

Multiverse of Madness's second trailer was launched during which February 2022 broadcast?

The Super Bowl spot drew 93 million views in a day, and a familiar voice in the trailer set fans guessing about a returning X-Men star.

In Multiverse of Madness, Wanda throws back at Strange his surrender of which Infinity Stone?

The Time Stone was his to guard, and he handed it over in Avengers: Infinity War; Wanda's point is that he broke the rules and became a hero, while she does it and becomes the enemy.

On Disney+, Multiverse of Madness offered a second version carrying which cinema brand's name?

IMAX's expanded picture, seen first in its cinemas, could follow the film to streaming because the production had shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras.

Multiverse of Madness was 2022's biggest US release until which film overtook it weeks later?

Top Gun: Maverick passed it in mid-June, about two weeks after Strange had itself overtaken The Batman; Maverick went on to more than $700 million, against $411 million here.

Which Strange variant duels the hero with weaponised musical notes?

Sinister Strange, corrupted by his own Darkhold, had taken to killing other versions of himself out of spite; Strange wins their duel of notes and takes his copy of the book.

Elizabeth Olsen won which prize at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards?

Best Villain was not a prize Olsen had pictured: she expected to be part of an ensemble, and said she was nervous and conflicted on learning Wanda was the film's antagonist.

The 'Main Titles' cue from Multiverse of Madness earned a Best Arrangement nomination at which 2023 awards?

The Grammys shortlisted the cue for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, but the horror-tinged film music lost to a big-band arrangement of a jazz standard.

The making-of special for Multiverse of Madness belongs to which Disney+ documentary series?

Marvel Studios: Assembled reached the film in July 2022, in an episode fronted by its Pizza Poppa street vendor and covering how the pandemic reshaped the script and the shoot.

Strange realises Wanda is behind the attacks when she lets slip what about the girl he is protecting?

Her name was something he had never mentioned; caught out, Wanda admits that the lying was the hard part, not conjuring the idyll around them.

Multiverse of Madness's screenwriter cameos as a guest at whose wedding?

Christine Palmer's wedding has him stepping onto a balcony with a martini beside the newlyweds; he says he wrote himself a backstory as the groom's best man.