Characters We Hope Show Up In Doctor Strange 2
The much anticipated "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is due to hit theaters on May 6, 2022. Benedict Cumberbatch returns in an all-new adventure, bringing another superhero heavyweight with him in the form of Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff. Fresh off a stint on her own Disney+ series, Wanda is now the Scarlet Witch, and may very well be one of the most powerful beings in the MCU. But Strange isn't looking to topple a tyrant this time around; he's instead looking for her help in a dimension-hopping tale following the multiverse events of "Spider-Man: No Way Home."
The film will also co-star the new young hero America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, and it's been strongly hinted that Patrick Stewart will portray Professor X for the first time in the MCU. Rumor has it that the film will see Strange, Wanda, and Chavez visiting a number of parallel realities across the multiverse, featuring a veritable horde of cameos from past Marvel movies and TV shows. Everyone from Wesley Snipes' Blade to a version of Iron Man played by Tom Cruise has been talked about, so it sounds like nothing is really off the table in this off-the-wall multiverse adventure.
But who do WE want to see show up in "Doctor Strange 2"? We've looked back across the multiverse ourselves and put together a list of who we are hoping for. Does it match with your list of favorite characters you want to see in "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness?" Scroll on to find out.
Mr. Fantastic
We know that Marvel Studios is hard at work prepping the big screen MCU debut of the Fantastic Four, to be helmed by "Spider-Man" trilogy director Jon Watts. But we haven't heard so much as a peep about casting any of the four main roles, despite the film being tentatively due in theaters next year. Could it be because they're planning to introduce one of its members in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"? That's our hope anyway.
From the movie's trailers it definitely looks like we'll be meeting Marvel's enigmatic Illuminati, a group of heroes from different teams who help guide events throughout the Marvel Universe. There have already been rumors that Ioan Gruffudd may reprise his role as Reed Richards from Fox's first two "Fantastic Four" movies, with the Illuminati in the film being a collection of heroes from different dimensions. While that would be a fun and unexpected appearance, that's not what we're hoping to see.
What we want to see is the MCU's Reed Richards making his debut in "Doctor Strange 2" as part of the multiverse Illuminati. Whether that means Marvel's First Family will hail from a parallel dimension or not, we don't know, but we want more than a callback to a forgettable Fox film.
Wolverine
If there's one X-Men character that Marvel fans are dying to discover in the MCU, it's Wolverine. Not because audiences are eager to see Hugh Jackman recast, but because they know it's inevitable and are curious who could possibly fill the role. Speculation online has swirled around the likes of Daniel Radcliffe and Taron Egerton, but whoever winds up playing him, we want to see him sooner than the planned "X-Men" film, which still sounds like it's a few years away.
Given the multiversal angle of the "Doctor Strange" sequel, it's possible we could visit a reality where Wanda is more closely associated with the X-Men. If that's the case, we could see her alongside the team, with Wanda coming face to face with the metal-clawed mutant and former Weapon X subject codenamed Wolverine.
Serving as the introduction to a new actor in the role, it would be a less pressure-filled debut for whoever takes up the mantle, and the perfect proving ground to see how audiences respond to someone else in the role once inhabited by the beloved Jackman. If successful, it would be easy enough to have him return in the eventual "X-Men" film.
Namor, the Submariner
One of Marvel's oldest and most important characters, and perhaps the biggest to have never been seen in live-action, Namor the Submariner is the ruler of the undersea kingdom of Atlantis in the Marvel Universe. He's closely tied to the adventures of the Fantastic Four, so it's possible they're saving him for that film. There have also been rumors that he could appear in the upcoming "Black Panther" sequel, "Wakanda Forever." But the Submariner is also a key member of the previously mentioned council of heroes, the Illuminati.
If "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is to faithfully interpret the group on screen, Namor should be among them. Even if Marvel Studios has plans to include him as a major player in an upcoming film, it could still make some sense to introduce him here, teasing him to audiences as a powerful, influential figure in the multiverse.
We've heard that the upcoming "Doctor Strange" sequel is going to be one weird, wild adventure. If that's the case, it would certainly be a fitting place to introduce the bare-chested, ankle-winged, green speedo-wearing undersea king. Seen alongside the likes of Mr. Fantastic, Professor X, and others, it might also help set him apart from Aquaman, his similar DC Comics counterpart.
Quicksilver
Introduced in the "Avengers" sequel "Age Of Ultron" alongside Wanda Maximoff, her brother Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) only ever appeared in one film in the MCU. Though there had been fan speculation that Pietro Maximoff was killed off because Fox was also introducing their own version of the character for their then-competing "X-Men" films, "Age of Ultron" director Joss Whedon has insisted that his death in the climax of that movie was always part of the plan.
Still, Quicksilver in the comics has been one of the longest tenured Avengers, and for him to have only gotten one appearance has to be one of the biggest missed opportunities in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Steve Rogers retired, Tony Stark gone, and the Avengers re-shuffling their roster, now is the perfect time to bring a heavy hitter like Quicksilver back into the fold. Some might prefer that Evan Peters — who played Fox's variant of the character — be the MCU's Quicksilver, but he's already shown up as a red herring version in "WandaVision."
Whoever plays him, we want to see Quicksilver pop up in "Multiverse Of Madness" and eventually return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe full-time. If they have to do it through multiverse shenanigans so be it. Perhaps as part of Wanda's therapy she's able to bring her brother back to her reality, or merge the MCU with a reality where he still lives.
Black Bolt
One of the founding members of Marvel's Illuminati, the Inhuman leader Black Bolt is a silent super-powered king, whose very whisper can topple skyscrapers. If you have forgotten that we've seen him in live-action before, ostensibly in the MCU in fact, you'd be forgiven. Because the ABC mini-series "Inhumans" — produced by Marvel Television, not Kevin Feige's Marvel Studios — was absolutely trashed by both critics and the few viewers who watched it. While it's been made available to stream on Disney+, it doesn't come recommended.
That said, it's not without its few bright spots, one of which was actor Anson Mount ("Hell On Wheels") in the role of the silent but deadly Black Bolt. If "Multiverse Of Madness" is going to depict the Illuminati with any degree of accuracy, it will need Black Bolt back and sitting among them. Despite the wretchedness of the "Inhumans" series, we also think Mount deserves a second chance to do justice to the character.
Though Marvel might be hesitant to remind viewers of the prior series, they've shown a willingness to bring back the actors from other poorly received projects, such as Jamie Foxx from "Amazing Spider-Man 2" turning up in "Spider-Man: No Way Home." With Mount back in a major role in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," perhaps he might also be ready to step into his own Marvel Studios-produced "Inhumans" streaming series and erase the previous one from our memory.
Variant Spider-Men
At first glance this might seem like a random inclusion, but dig a little deeper and you'll see that appearances from Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield almost make too much sense not to include. Of course, we can start with their last appearances, in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," a story that not only kicked off thanks to a spell from Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange, but saw the Master of the Mystic Arts encounter the multiverse for the first time.
Given the overwhelmingly positive response to the return of both Maguire and Garfield, it makes sense that Marvel might want one or both to pop back up and put more butts in seats. Throw in the fact that Sam Raimi, who helmed three previous "Spider-Man" films starring Maguire, is directing "Multiverse Of Madness," and both the in-universe and real world reasons are all there to demand their return.
Suffice to say, if Doctor Strange is looking for allies to help him fight a multiversal war, his first call might be to the only two heroes from an alternate dimension that he is already acquainted with. With talk that Garfield is open to return for more of his own Spider-Man adventures, and fans hoping that even Raimi and Maguire could reunite for "Spider-Man 4," the "Doctor Strange" sequel might be the perfect place to lay the groundwork for their future exploits.
Clea
A longtime ally and lover of Dr. Stephen Strange from the classic comic books, Clea was another well-known sorcerer in the Marvel Universe. Long thought to be a part of the first "Doctor Strange" film as Strange's love interest, the movie ultimately went with Rachel McAdams as the good doctor's star-crossed former lover Christine Palmer. While we know that McAdams is due to reprise her role as Palmer for "Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness," Clea still feels conspicuous by her absence from Dr. Strange's supporting cast. The broad scope of the sequel's story, however, provides just the opportunity we've been waiting for to introduce Strange's other love.
In addition, there have been recent changes to the status quo in the Marvel comics that saw Clea taking up the mantle as the Sorcerer Supreme. Given the timing, we have to wonder if this is in preparation for a major role in the MCU sequel, where she could eventually become an important ally to Doctor Strange.
Of course, one persistent rumor claims that McAdams herself, as Christine Palmer, could suit up as the Marvel Sorceress in "Multiverse of Madness." It would be an unconventional choice, but might make sense to take his existing love interest, already played by a superstar actress, and transform her into the beloved Marvel heroine. Whatever form she takes, we definitely want to see Clea joining Doctor Strange on screen.
Nightmare
Outside of the villainous being Dormammu — who appeared as the entity behind the curtain in the first "Doctor Strange" — the interdimensional demon Nightmare might be the hero's biggest foe in the comics. Nightmare rules over the so-called "Dream Dimension" and has tormented Strange throughout his career as a sorcerer. Not dissimilar to Freddy Krueger, Nightmare exists in dreams, a dimension where people's consciousnesses go while they are asleep.
Despite "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" being centered on Strange's trip through the multiverse, we still don't know much about the villain of the film. Many have theorized that Wanda Maximoff, fresh off the events of "WandaVision," is secretly the evil mastermind, but what if she too is being manipulated? We saw Wanda having a quasi-vision of her two children in the post-credits scene of her own series; could it have been sent to her from the Dream Dimension by none other than the villainous Nightmare, to lure her into multiversal conflict with Doctor Strange for some hitherto unknown reason?
Anything is possible, but no matter what he's up to, Nightmare is the evil mastermind we want to see in the "Doctor Strange" sequel.
The Incredible Hulk
We've been hearing rumblings for months about possible cameos, guest appearances, and crossovers in the works for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." Most have centered on alternate Avengers we could see, or reprisals of past Marvel movie universes, but we've surprisingly heard very little about possible appearances from characters already within the MCU. After all, if the movie is going to be a cameo-palooza, there's no reason we can't see some old favorites back in action alongside Doctor Strange.
Although the Hulk is reportedly unable to appear in his own feature film, we know he'll be showing up in other projects in the days ahead. He appeared briefly in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," and is next due for an appearance in "She-Hulk." But considering he's met Strange before, and was alongside Wong in "Shang-Chi," we're hoping we see him again in "Multiverse Of Madness." Not just because we love Mark Ruffalo's performances as Banner and Hulk, but because we are hoping that Marvel might be working towards a more faithful on-screen Defenders team-up.
In the comics, the original Defenders super-team was led by Doctor Strange, and featured the Hulk, Namor, and the Silver Surfer. We're already hoping Namor could sit on the Illuminati council, so having Hulk pop up too would certainly get the ball rolling on a proper "Defenders" configuration. If it does, we don't want to see a Smart Hulk either; we want to see a return to the brutish, savage Hulk of old, perhaps now split from Banner.
Steve Rogers
Speaking of classic MCU greats that we want to see make a return for "Doctor Strange 2," we'll throw Captain America into the mix. We'll admit this is a bit of a selfish pick, with no bigger reason or implication for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe than we just want to see Chris Evans back in the role one more time.
While many fans and critics have said that "Avengers: Endgame" offered Cap the perfect close to his story in the MCU, we're still looking to find out what happened in his years after returning to the 1940s. A visit to the past by Doctor Strange could at least give us a glimpse, without disturbing that touching final moment in the Infinity Saga. He could even give Strange a brief assist, but in truth we're not asking for a major action sequence or extended cameo. Just a momentary look at Cap's happy years with Peggy would be enough to satisfy us, and resolve some unanswered questions that we still have about what became of him.
Whether it's a young Cap in the 1950s, or an elderly, retired Cap in the present offering Strange some advice, we want to see Evans one more time in the MCU.
The New Vision
When it was announced that "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" would feature Wanda Maximoff in a major role, "WandaVision" had yet to air, and many wondered how the Disney+ series might dovetail into the "Doctor Strange" sequel. In the end, there weren't many obvious connections: there was no hint of the multiverse, no appearance by Doctor Strange himself, not even a post-credits scene with Wong to give us a glimpse of what was to come.
In the end, "WandaVision" was very much its own story, but when it ended, there were still many unresolved plotlines. We will likely see some of them tied up in the forthcoming "House Of Harkness" Disney+ series, but one big one still lingers: the fate of the newly revived Vision, a solid white synthezoid who flew off to parts unknown at the end of "WandaVision."
If Wanda is indeed going to play a pivotal role in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," we will need some follow-up to the events of her series. An appearance by the new white Vision might be the best place to start, and give us an indication of where Wanda stands with her former lover: does he remember her at all, or is he an entirely new person? Will he have a new name? We want some answers, and "Doctor Strange 2" could deliver them with an appearance by the new and upgraded Vision.
Magneto
The most important member of the Maximoff family, Eric Lehnsherr, aka Magneto, may be the biggest "X-Men" foe, but he's also the father of Wanda and Pietro. While the connection was made in the recent "X-Men" films between Quicksilver and his father, legal issues between Marvel and the different movie studios had prevented his inclusion in Wanda's MCU family tree. But with Fox purchased by Disney in 2019, all that has changed, and if "Multiverse of Madness" is going to delve further into Wanda's backstory, it would be wise to have the mutant madman make his debut. If he does, we want Michael Fassbender to come back to his role as the master of magnetism — not as his original Fox variant, but as a newly-christened member of the MCU.
Of course, we don't need to see Magneto in all his super-powered, purple-helmeted glory. A simple cameo as Lehnsherr would be just fine with us, establishing Fassbender back in the part while preparing him to make the jump to the MCU's own inevitable "X-Men" films. Could he also give Doctor Strange a hand in a massive multiversal battle alongside Patrick Stewart's allegedly returning Professor X? Sure, why not.
Moon Knight
With the release of "Moon Knight" on Disney+ starring Oscar Isaac, the upcoming "Blade" reboot starring Mahershala Ali, and an announced "Werewolf By Night" special, it's clear that Marvel is ready to fully embrace the supernatural in the MCU. While the first "Doctor Strange" added magic and other dimensions, and "Multiverse of Madness" will up the ante, these new projects have much more of the dark horror vibe that fans of that corner of the Marvel universe have been looking for.
In the comics, of course, Doctor Strange has a number of connections to that corner, having helped assemble the fabled "Midnight Sons" that included the likes of Blade, Moon Knight, and Ghost Rider. While we'd love to see all three of those Marvel heroes pop up in the "Doctor Strange" sequel, Moon Knight is the one we're hoping to see most. Not just because he's an under-represented character in the pantheon of Marvel on film, but because we want to see Oscar Isaac mixing it up with Benedict Cumberbatch.
Though the "Moon Knight" series on Disney+ feels like a very standalone adventure, an appearance by the character would also help firmly root him in the MCU. It could also serve as the first step towards a "Midnight Sons" team-up.
Kang the Conqueror
Actor Jonathan Majors was cast as Kang the Conqueror way back in September 2020, announced as the villain in the upcoming "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania." But a variant version of Kang makes a surprise appearance first in the Disney+ series "Loki." There, he's the architect behind the Time Variance Authority, the organization responsible for overseeing the multiverse and preserving a single "sacred timeline." Not quite the Kang from the comics, he's instead called "He Who Remains," an eccentric scientist from the future who had discovered the multiverse and battled variants of himself.
In the climactic moments of that series' first season, "He Who Remains" is killed. That unleashes the multiverse, which includes variant versions of himself — one of which was described as a conqueror. We know he's coming, at the very least in the next "Ant-Man" film, and very likely as the MCU's next overarching big bad. If the next big multiversal war is to start in "Doctor Strange 2," it only makes sense that its greatest warrior, Kang the Conqueror, would make himself known.
With the positive response to Majors in the role, and rumors that Loki himself will appear, we can't imagine why Kang wouldn't show up. With all of that taken into account, this one is more than a hope; we're considering this one a cameo we expect to see.