Chiwetel Ejiofor Confirms A Key Detail About Doctor Strange 2's Baron Mordo
Back in 2016, the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew a little bigger thanks to Scott Derrickson's "Doctor Strange" — which introduces Benedict Cumberbatch as the Master of the Mystic Arts, as well as the idea of the multiverse and alternate dimensions of reality. The story charts Strange's origin as a narcissistic surgeon whose hands are permanently injured in a devastating accident — before he winds up becoming a sorcerer and defends the world from Dormammu in the Dark Dimension. It also puts the hero in a pivotal role in the MCU as he wields the Time Stone.
But the film also introduces Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo, one of the senior sorcerers at Kamar-Taj. He acts as another mentor and close friend for Strange — until he recoils at how Stephen isn't afraid to bend the laws of time and space to stop Dormammu because it's unnatural. In the comics, Mordo is one of Strange's biggest foes, and the MCU uses the end of the first film as a way of turning the two against each other.
But Mordo hasn't been seen since, presumably because he's been hunting down magic users as part of his post-credits scene realization that there are too many sorcerers in the world. Thankfully, Ejiofor is reprising the role for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," as a recent TV spot confirms that a version of the villain is working with the Illuminati.
Regardless of what he has in store for the titular hero, Ejiofor just confirmed a key detail about Baron Mordo in the sequel.
Baron Mordo didn't die in the Snap
It seems Baron Mordo had better luck than Doctor Strange in "Avengers: Infinity War," because he actually survives Thanos' (Josh Brolin) infamous snap with the Infinity Gauntlet. When speaking to Total Film (via The Direct) about "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," Chiwetel Ejiofor noted that "[he] wasn't part of the Snap's 'away' group," before adding that he "was definitely engaged in that time" — referring to the five-year gap between "Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame."
The star went on to explain that Mordo's quest has only become more serious: "The concerns in the MCU have all expanded, but in some ways [Mordo's] concerns have gathered momentum. The nature of what he has been talking about has come to pass, in many ways." Ejiofor added that Mordo's motivation is completely understandable, especially because he thinks about the rest of reality, not just himself. "I think it's a totally justified quest, and we'll continue to see this dichotomy between somebody who is still holding a fraternal connection to Stephen Strange, and somebody who does think about the bigger picture."
It'll be interesting to see if Mordo shares his opinions on Thanos' actions since the Snap will have inevitably killed a few sorcerers on Earth. He probably wasn't too happy that the Avengers toyed with time, considering that it messes with the natural order of the universe.
At least there isn't long to wait — "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" arrives in theaters on May 6.