The anticipation for Spider-Man 4 is reaching new heights among fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the success of the previous Spider-Man movies, viewers are eagerly waiting for the next installment. In this blog post, we'll dive into all the exciting details about Spider-Man 4, from the cast to the plot, giving you an inside scoop on what to expect from this highly anticipated movie.
Spider-Man 4 is definitely happening, but not as soon as many fans would want. Sony and Marvel confirmed the film is officially in development, but the writers' strike in Hollywood and Tom Holland's break from acting have left the project on hold.
Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal teased a new trilogy was in the works prior to No Way Home's release. Then, swiftly, she backtracked on that in December 2021, essentially saying it was wishful thinking, or maybe manifesting, because...
Shortly afterwards, Feige confirmed that a new Spider-Man movie was in development. By May 2022, Sony boss Tom Rothman said they "hope to get working on the next Spider-Man movie" with "that whole group" (Tom Holland, Zendaya and co).
A year later, while promoting the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Pascal confirmed this saying: "Are we going to make another movie? Of course, we are."
With that in mind, here's what we know so far about Spider-Man 4.
Spider-Man 4 potential release date: When will Spider-Man 4 be out in cinemas?
Spider-Man 4 might be in development, but doesn't yet have a release date confirmed. As with anything Marvel or Marvel-adjacent, rumours abound. Until there's something confirmed, however, we will steer clear of any unsubstantiated whispers.
In the past, there have been two years between each Spider-Man movie within the MCU, but we have a feeling for the reasons mentioned above, it'll be a bigger gap for the next film.
The Sony date that has inspired the aforementioned whispers is an unconfirmed Marvel project for June 7, 2024.
This could be Spider-Man 4, but this would place the film one month after Deadpool 3 and two months prior to Captain America: Brave New World in Marvel's revised release schedule. This feels like an overload of films, even for a cinematic universe as chockablock as the MCU.
While Sony reportedly was keen to have Jon Watts return as director, he's currently taking a superhero break after exiting Fantastic Four. But if there's as big a gap as we think there'll be before Spider-Man 4, never say never.
Also taking a break (from acting) is Tom Holland, which may cause delays in the production of Spider-Man 4. His work in the TV series The Crowded Room was quite difficult, as the actor explained in an interview with Extra! in June 2023.
"It was a tough time, for sure," he said. "We were exploring certain emotions that I have definitely never experienced before. And then on top of that, being a producer, dealing with the day-to-day problems that come with any film set, just added that extra level of pressure.
"I'm now taking a year off, and that is a result of how difficult this show was."
The preparation for the film is also affected by the writers' strike in Hollywood. "We're in the process, but [with] the writers' strike, nobody is working during the strike. We're all being supporters and whenever they get themselves together, we'll get started," said Amy Pascal in an interview with Variety.
In the same outlet, Holland added: "I can't talk about that, but I can say that we have been having meetings. We've put the meetings on pause in solidarity with the writers. There's been multiple conversations had, but at this point it's very, very early stages."
All this to say that, as of writing, it's hard to guess when the fourth instalment will be out. If Sony is keen to keep Holland in the suit, it might be sooner rather than later. But if a new man is to take over the mantle, we may be waiting a while longer.
Spider-Man 4 cast: Will Tom Holland return as Spider-Man?
Initially, Tom Holland was a bit cagey about his future as Peter Parker, understandably. After the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, he was quoted as saying: "Maybe it is time for me to move on. I have to take Peter Parker into account as well, because he is an important part of my life," and added: "If I'm playing Spider-Man after I'm 30, I've done something wrong."
However, he then clarified those quotes, saying: "I don't know what the future of Spider-Man looks like. "I don't know whether I'm going to be a part of it. Spider-Man will always live on in me and I know that [producer] Amy [Pascal] and the studio are keen to figure out what the next chapter of Spider-Man looks like.
"If that happens to be with me, then that's very exciting but, you know, if it's time for me to walk away then I'll do so proudly."
There's always the possibility that Holland could move into more of a mentor role for a new Spider-Man (Miles Morales, perhaps), but there are no teasers for that in No Way Home so we can only speculate for now.
We'd imagine that Zendaya and Jacob Batalon would return as MJ and Ned, respectively, but by the end of No Way Home, neither remember Peter is in fact Spider-Man.
That could mean MJ and Ned won't be in a potential fourth movie, although we're just speculating for now. Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) doesn't know Peter now either, but he does know Spider-Man so he could be back again.
One person who definitely won't be in it is Marisa Tomei, as Aunt May is tragically killed by the Green Goblin. The multiverse does offer the possibility of an alternate Aunt May (like the alternate Spider-Men), but we feel this won't be done.
It's also unlikely that Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire would return, again, to their roles, given that their brief but meaningful appearance in No Way Home is rectified as the plot reseals the multiverse up.
However, they do now have official MCU names as "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" (Maguire) and "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Garfield), so who's to say they couldn't swing by the MCU again?
Garfield would certainly be up for another team-up movie as long as the story called for it: "It would have to be something very unique, very special and serving to an audience and in service of the character."
Could we see Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Venom in the fourth movie? He does appear in the credits scene, but is taken back to his own universe. (More on him later.)
Spider-Man 4 plot: Does No Way Home set up Spider-Man 4?
Short answer: not really. The climax effectively wraps up the trilogy and sets a blank slate for the future. The possibilities for that new movie are endless!
What we do know is that the story, mysterious as it is, is being written. Kevin Feige said: "We have the story. We have big ideas for that, and our writers are just putting pen to paper now."
A potential fourth movie can do whatever it likes, whether that's having Peter train up a new Spider-Man, a standalone adventure where he faces a new villain or something else entirely.
"At the end of the movie we just made, you see Spider-Man make a momentous decision, one that you've never seen him make before. It's a sacrifice. And that gives us a lot to work with for the next film," Pascal teased to The New York Times.
One potential option is to deliver a long-awaited battle between Spider-Man and Venom on the big screen. As we saw in the Venom 2 credits scene, Eddie Brock and Venom are transported to the MCU.
It's because of the botched spell that Doctor Strange casts, but he rectifies it at the end which means Eddie and Venom are taken back to their universe. A piece of the Venom symbiote is left behind though, so it could take over somebody in the MCU.
We'd be surprised if the MCU set up its own Venom though, as Tom Hardy is so popular with fans. So we imagine if the face-off is going to happen, they'll manufacture a way for either Spidey to cross into Venom's universe, or vice-versa. Watch this space.
No Way Home also makes a fun nod to Ned's villainous turn as Hobgoblin in the comics. We think it's unlikely we'll see it play out on screen, but stranger things have happened in the MCU.
Spider-Man 4 trailer: Any Spider-Man 4 footage yet?
Of course not! You'll have to make do with No Way Home rewatches for now.
Tom Holland will only return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Spider-Man 4 on one very difficult condition. Following the massive success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the iconic web-crawler has been absent from the MCU since 2021. However, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have been working on Spider-Man 4, which has been in the development stages for over a year at this point.
While Holland has confirmed that he has been having meetings about returning to the MCU, the actor is still treading carefully about reprising the role. In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment (via Kevin Polowy,) the MCU veteran talked briefly about Spider-Man 4 and what it would take for him to fully come back as the web-slinger. Unless they can outdo Spider-Man: No Way Home, Holland says Peter Parker can "swing off into the sunset," stating the following:
If we can't find a way to compete with the third one, he'll swing off into the sunset.
Should Spider-Man 4 Be Peter Parker's Final MCU Story?
At this point, it doesn't sound as if Holland has fully signed on for a new contract with Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures but is testing the waters about Spider-Man 4. With that said, based on Holland's statement, it does beg the question if Spider-Man 4 should potentially be looked at as Peter's MCU finale. Holland is making a valid point that Spider-Man: No Way Home set the bar high for what sequels could do with Peter's story, as the trilogy explored the multiverse.
But if the two studios can't find a solid idea that could take Spider-Man into a sequel trilogy, it would maybe be wise if the next film tries to wrap up Peter's story. Perhaps this could be the opportunity for the MCU to finally introduce Miles Morales in live-action, with Sony Pictures already looking at giving the character his own solo movie. Spider-Man 4 could see Holland finish his time in the MCU while paving the way for Miles to continue his legacy.
Needless to say, Spider-Man 4 definitely needs to happen, given how Spider-Man: No Way Home ended with Peter now being on his own. At the very least, the MCU should follow up on that story and give Peter a satisfactory conclusion, simply so that he isn't all by himself in the world. Hopefully, more updates about Spider-Man 4 will begin to emerge sooner rather than later.
Marvel and Sony's Spider-Man 4 finally gets an update from a producer after three months. Tom Holland will return for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's next Peter Parker adventure, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has already revealed that Spider-Man 4's story has been set. While there are not many details available regarding what that story might entail or which characters will be part of it, Spider-Man 4 has just received an update that should give an idea of when more about the movie should become public.
Speaking with Variety, longtime Spider-Man franchise producer Amy Pascal shared an update on the status of Holland's Spider-Man 4. Pascal started by confirming that Spider-Man 4 is moving forward before revealing that the movie has been affected by the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. According to Pascal, work on the film has been stopped as all the people involved are "being supporters" of the strike. Pascal confirmed work on Spider-Man 4 will resume after the strike ends. Check out the full quote below:
Are we going to make another movie? Of course, we are. We’re in the process, but the writers strike, nobody is working during the strike. We’re all being supporters and whenever they get themselves together, we’ll get started.
When Will Spider-Man 4 Release?
Holland will be the first Peter Parker actor to get a fourth Spider-Man movie, as Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 4 was canceled and the franchise rebooted in favor of Andrew Garfield's The Amazing Spider-Man movies, which would only be a duology, with Holland then becoming the Peter Parker actor in the MCU. While it might take a little longer than expected due to the writer's strike, the MCU will get a Spider-Man 4 nonetheless.
Holland's next Spider-Man solo movie might be guaranteed; however, the film's release date is not. Up to this point, every Holland Spider-Man movie has been released two years after the last. Spider-Man 4 will break that MCU trend, as the next movie of the wall-crawler would need to be released this year to keep the pattern going after 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Given how a 2023 release is out of the cards, the focus shifts to when Spider-Man 4 might make its way into theaters. Based on the fact that work on the movie will only resume after the writer's strike ends and that the film would likely start production after mid-2024, a Spider-Man 4 release might be at least two years away from happening. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will likely feature Spider-Man, and the film releases on May 2, 2025. Based on the current status of Holland's movie, Spider-Man 4 should debut after the next Avengers film, with a Summer or Winter 2025 release.
Out of the many Spider-Man variants in the Marvel Universe, Spider-Man Noir is the absolute worst - and separates himself from Peter Parker in one major way. The character is quite popular among Marvel readers and casual fans alike, perhaps due to his appearance in 2019’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film. But he is far from the morally-updating hero fans believe him to be, and Edge of Spider-Verse #1 proves it by showing his worst possible act towards Mary Jane.
Spider-Man Noir (real name Peter Parker) is a hard-boiled detective living in the 1930s in an alternate universe version of New York. Characterized by his iconic fedora, long trenchcoat, and all-black costume, Spider-Man Noir is a throwback to the narratives of the 30s - especially of hard workers rising up against corrupt bosses and officials (as his Uncle Ben says after fighting in World War I, "If those in power can't be trusted, it's the responsibility of the people to remove them"). Like the main version of the webslinging hero, Spider-Man Noir is often paired with Mary Jane, and the relationship is quite serious. Unfortunately, it is not without its troubles, which are only exacerbated and magnified by the setting.
In Edge of Spider-Verse #1’s story “My Dame, My Destiny” with story and art by Dustin Weaver & D.J. Bryant, Spider-Man Noir rescues a woman with amnesia from street thugs. Giving her the name “Sharon”, Noir spends time with her all over the city in an attempt to jog her memory, and eventually learns she’s looking for her daughter. He becomes enamored with her after hearing her sing at the Black Cat Club, and after bringing her back to his apartment, kisses her – seconds before Mary Jane walks into the room.
Spider-Man is no stranger to awful decisions, beginning with the choice to not pursue the burglar in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1963’s origin story. But Spider-Man has also never cheated on Mary Jane, and certainly not in this manner – where Peter has another woman in his own house and him and Mary Jane are clearly in a serious relationship. That isn’t to say his memory has been entirely faithful – he memorably has a dream just before his wedding in which Gwen Stacy walks down the aisle before disappearing; even just before his marriage, Peter has second thoughts.
Perhaps this is an homage to the detective radio serials of the 30s, 40s and early 50s, in which the protagonist has great difficulty in maintaining a relationship but continually falls into the proverbial arms of every woman he meets. Even so, this is one of the more awful choices Peter Parker has made – even perhaps beating out Spider-Man: One More Day – and the story is left open-ended with no indication that the couple will get back together. Spider-Man Noir is one of the worst versions of Spider-Man because he abandons his most important partner in life without any apparent thought to her well-being.
New merchandise from Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse reveals character and story details for the sequel. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is the sequel to the animated hit Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, which introduced Miles Morales' Spider-Man (voiced by Shamiek Moore) as he must contend with an opening of the Spider-Verse, which brings several Spider-People from all different dimensions into his world. One of those Spider-People is Spider-Man/Peter B. Parker (voiced by Jake Johnson), who becomes a mentor to Morales, helping him establish himself in his own Spider-Verse, before returning to his own world at the end of the first film.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is the first chapter of a two-part sequel, with the third chapter being called Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse. Both will release in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with both Moore, Johnson, and a massive cast that includes Oscar Isaac (Spider-Man 2099), Hailee Steinfeld (Spider-Gwen), Issa Rae (Jessica Drew), Bryan Tyree Henry (Jefferson Davis), Shea Whigham (George Stacy), Jorma Taccone (Vulture), and Jason Schwartzman (The Spot). Written by Chris Miller and Phil Lord, along with Dave Callaham, both sequels will be directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson.
New merchandise for Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse has started hitting shelves in anticipation of the film's release next year (via ComicBook) and features some new character and story details that give a closer look at what the film will involve. On the back of the packaging for one of the new pieces of merch, it reads, "Peter B. Parker is stuck between wanting to protect old pal Miles and siding with his more experienced Spider-Man comrade." This suggests some conflict is coming between Parker, Morales, and likely that of Miguel O'Hara aka Spider-Man 2099. The other piece of packaging reads, "Miguel O'Hara tried to manipulate the genetics of former Spider-People and accidentally turned himself into the best Spider-Man in the Multi-Verse." This reads more like a description for Spider-Man 2099 as a character, as it relates closely to his comic-book origin and seems likely to translate similarly in Across The Spider-Verse.
Spider-Man 2099 appeared in the end credits of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, teasing a much larger role for Across The Spider-Verse, as he appeared to have a firm grasp and understanding of the multi-verse, more so than any other character. The teaser trailers thus far have shown as much, with Spider-Man 2099 featuring prominently throughout, utilizing the "goober" on his wrist, which appears to allow him to jump through the Spider-Verse with ease. Certainly that will play a big role in bringing Miles Morales and Peter B. Parker into the story, but outside The Spot being one of the villains, very little has been officially revealed about the story.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is still a year away, so there's plenty of time to speculate on how the film will play out, but each new clue, be it a trailer or merchandise, continues to peel back the layers on what these animated sequels will be about. The first Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was an amazing achievement in animation and for many, it's the best Spider-Man film to date, even more so than the live-action iterations. Having a new conflict between Parker, O'Hara, and Morales should make for a fun dynamic as they venture further into the animated world of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse.
Ms. Marvel is about to make its Disney+ debut, and fans of the character cannot wait. In recent years, Kamala Kahn has become beloved amongst the comic community, bringing her youthful super-fan energy and diverse heritage to a medium that had been so absent of such elements up to that point. In her MCU streaming series, Kamala will be played by Iman Vellani, a Marvel Studios mega enthusiast in her own right.
The Ms. Marvel comic was such a breath of fresh air for many when it hit store shelves back in 2014. The book offered fans a chance to see themselves in this super-powered universe, while also showcasing what it is like to grow up as a first-generation immigrant.
The upcoming Kamala-centered MCU series will incorporate all these elements in its six-episode run. Something that is wholly new for the show, though, is an effort to incorporate animated elements and splashes akin to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse. Early reviews of the project have praised these small flourishes, and Ms. Marvel's directors have spoken out on these specific elements in advance of its first episode's debut.
In a recent press conference for the upcoming Ms. Marvel series, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah addressed the show's distinct style.
El Arbi said that the animated flourishes were them trying to "find a way to translate her imagination and her fantasy worlds in a cool way." He expressed that the team was nervous to go to Kevin Feige and Marvel with this idea as "it's different from the other shows in the MCU," but after some explaining of the Into the Spider-Verse-connected concept, Feige said "it's true to the story and the character, [so] let's do it:"
"Well, I guess it's about the animation. For us, we always wanted to find a way to translate her imagination and her fantasy worlds in a cool way. That's where we came up with the idea of injecting that animation aspect to it. But we were a bit afraid that Kevin and the rest of Marvel would say no because it's different from the other shows in the MCU. So we made a whole presentation with videos and all that explaining why it was important to have those sequences. And, surprisingly, he said yes! He said, 'Don't go overboard, don't do it every five seconds, but it's true to the story and the character, let's go for it.' That's how we had that style. It's also very inspired by Into the Spider-Verse, so, thank you Kevin for allowing us to do that."
Looking deeper into why exactly these Spider-Verse-esque elements were introduced, El Arbi told Deadline that they "wanted to have an endearing and charming character" who "Muslim girls all over the world can relate to:"
"We needed to set her up right. That’s why we wanted to add animation to it. It was not in the script, we wanted to get into her head, into her fantasy. We wanted to have an endearing and charming character. And have someone that Muslim girls all over the world can relate to, but also tell that universal story everybody can feel a connection with."
A Much-Needed Inspiration for the MCU
When it comes to these younger superheroes (i.e. Peter Parker, America Chavez, and Kamala Khan), that blissfully youthful imagination is one of the most endearing parts of the character. While other names in the MCU have not personified this active imagination on-screen as of yet, Ms. Marvel will change that. And what better character to debut something like this with.
At this point in the MCU, it is getting harder and harder to make something that feels distinct, yet also part of the greater universe. Staying true to the character from which each project is drawing is where the differences start to pop up. With The Falcon and the Winter Soldier fans got an international spy thriller, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness offered a peek at an MCU horror movie, and Ms. Marvel is going to be a 'cheesy' high school coming of age comedy. Each of these titles delivers different experiences based on what makes each character special.
And that is where the unique style of Ms. Marvel comes into play. Since its titular hero is a young Avengers super-fan with an overly active imagination, audiences are going to get to be brought right into her brain, seeing the world for how she sees it. It's a style that worked so well in a similarly youthful project in Into the Spider-Verse, and it seems to be working just as swimmingly here.
As great as the MCU is, there are other films out there based on Marvel heroes. The most recent example is Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which did fairly well at the box office and led to a third entry being greenlit. That project is just one in what will be a much wider connected world separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe; Sony's Spider-Man Universe to be precise.
The next film on its slate is Morbius, which stars Jared Leto as the titular Vampiric anti-hero. The movie has seen delay after delay, but it's currently still set to hit theaters on April 1—hopefully, it's not a joke.
Thanks to the Multiverse concept introduced in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and the confusing post-credits scene with Tom Hardy, fans have been constantly wondering if they'll ever see these Sony films crossover with the MCU. Will Venom, or Morbius, meet Tom Holland's web-slinger one day?
While there's been plenty of conversation in regards to the alien symbiote, now the actor behind Sony's new Vampire has commented on the possibility.
Will Spider-Man Show Up In Morbius?
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Jared Leto commented on his upcoming movie Morbius.
The actor hyped up the project by stating how the film "[is] a different take on the Marvel universe, and it's a brand new character," and how "[he is] super excited to share that with audiences."
When asked if fans can expect to see Morbius face off against the iconic Spider-Man, Leto smiled and said that "[he'd] love to get in the ring with Spider-Man:"
"Well... I would love to get in the ring with Spider-Man. I think Tom Holland is amazing, and we'd make quite a dynamic duo, I guess."
Maybe One Day, Spider-Man
Most fans probably wouldn't complain about seeing Tom Holland's Spider-Man take down an actual vampire. Especially if Morbius ends up being a hit—though, Jared Leto's anti-hero will have to stand in line behind Venom when it comes to desired crossovers.
Another prime option for an MCU crossover, with the Multiverse in mind, would be for Leto's titular character to go up against Mahershala Ali's Blade. Vampires are his bread and butter; it seems like the perfect opportunity.
Sony's approach to how they'll handle the Multiverse on its end going forward has been confusing, to say the least. From the casual one-night visit to the MCU with Tom Hardy to Michael Keaton's role as Adrian Tombs in Morbius, they have fans scratching their heads.
Maybe once Morbius hits theaters on April 1 later this year, everything will become a little clearer, and the path to a possible crossover with the web-slinger will start to become visible. Maybe Sony can just use Andrew Garfield instead.
Spider-Man: No Way Home has been out in the world for a few months now, but audiences are still finding new things to love about it. The movie was a massive achievement, bringing together legacy Sony Spider-Man characters like Electro, Doc Ock, and Green Goblin alongside Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes like Wong and Doctor Strange.
Benedict Cumberbatch's appearance in the film as the (ex) Sorcerer Supreme ended up being a lot more than just a cameo appearance. Tom Holland's Peter Parker initially came to Doctor Strange to ask for help with a spell that would erase the world's knowledge of his identity as Spider-Man. While Strange agreed to do the spell, things didn't exactly go to plan and the duo spent the rest of the movie cleaning up the Multiversal mess the spell created.
While Strange spent a fair chunk of the movie angry at Parker, it was clear the two had clearly formed a strong bond by the end of the movie and their relationship was one of the more emotional arcs in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In a recent interview, Cumberbatch had a fair bit to say about Parker and Strange's relationship, even adding some wisdom of his own to their scenes during filming.
Benedict Cumberbatch Improvised On Spider-Man: No Way Home
In an interview with Collider, Benedict Cumberbatch spoke about his time on Spider-Man: No Way Home calling it a "terrific film" with a "humdinger" script.
The actor said he "knew it would be good" but was still surprised by just how big of a hit Spider-Man: No Way Home has become.
"The culmination of those first two films into the third, and those relationships and that triumvirate with those three actors, they’re so good. It was a brilliant set to be on. I knew it would be good. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m just astonished at quite how big a hit it is. I understand the love of it because not only is it Spidey, it’s a brilliant Spider-Man film."
Cumberbatch particularly praised director Jon Watts, saying he was very "detail-oriented" but appreciated that the director would "throw aside a piece of script" in order to find better story moments.
"He’s got such great taste. He’s very detail-orientated as well. He manages the tone so beautifully, all the time, and yet is still so nimble. Great directors are able to throw aside a piece of script or a big set piece and go, 'Oh, maybe that’s the story there.'"
The actor explained that one such moment that was changed on the fly occurred between Peter Parker and Doctor Strange at the end of the film.
Cumberbatch said that, during reshoots, he came up with an idea that would illustrate Strange's love for Peter by initially rejecting his sacrifice. Upon watching the improvisation, Watts immediately wanted it to be part of the final film.
"There was this one moment near the end of the film, where we were really trying to make that moment work, at the top of the Statue of Liberty. Tom [Holland] was having a tough time with the script, as it was before the reshoots. And then, we did the reshoots and I came up with this idea of, to show that I love him, I didn’t want him to make the sacrifice of being forgotten. He was like, 'That’s gonna be in the film.' And I was like, 'Okay, cool. That’s great.'"
Cumberbatch said he is usually "quite a canon guy" but that the freedom to improvise on Spider-Man: No way Home was "a real eye-opener".
You throw yourself out there in those huge sand pits. The remarkable thing I learned from Tom Holland and RDJ on Infinity War was seeing how at ease he was, just in improvising about Aunt May with Robert Downey Jr. He did this thing which wasn’t scripted at all. I’m quite a canon guy. It’s about the text for me. To be free with that and to have some maneuverability in it and to be able to improvise, and on such a large canvas, was a real eye-opener.
Doctor Strange and the Madness of Improvising
Fans will remember the scene that Cumberbatch is referring to as quite an emotional one between Doctor Strange and Peter Parker and a moment that shows just how far their relationship has come. To learn the scene was improvised adds an extra layer of sentimentality as it came from the actors themselves.
It's just one of many moments that were developed late in the game on Spider-Man: No Way Home. Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield admitted in interviews that he improvised the "I love you guys" line between the three Spider-Men, which has since become a fan-favorite moment. No Way Home writers Erik Sommers and Chris McKenna also revealed that the script was quite flexible with input from the actors being considered throughout development and filming.
Some of the MCU's best lines have been the result of actors' improvisations. Cumberbatch will next be seen as Stephen Strange in the sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will deal with the fallout of the events from Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now that the actor has had a chance to improvise a few lines of his own it will be interesting to see whether any moments in Multiverse of Madness are of his own creation.
Spider-Man: No Way Home may have been the first movie to bring Multiversal mayhem to the MCU, but it may be nothing compared to what's coming in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Marvel Studios' first theatrical film of the year will advance a number of stories within the franchise, which far exceeds Benedict Cumberbatch's master magician alone.
When the sequel was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, the only wild casting that fans found out about was Elizabeth Olsen's inclusion as Wanda Maximoff. Although her story was said to continue directly from the events of WandaVision, she would be the film's biggest new player alongside Doctor Strange, and they'd eventually have returning players Wong and Baron Mordo join the fray.
After that, this movie's story and cast list turned into...pun totally intended...madness.
The Multiverse became a reality after Tom Holland's Spider-Man threequel, which brought five past Spidey villains into the MCU along with both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's web-slingers. Now, the possibilities are endless for Doctor Strange 2.
With the movie set for release in May, the film's two full trailers and the Super Bowl TV spot have teased various potential heroes and villains that could play a role in the expansive plot. The promo material has led to confirmation and rumors pointing to appearances by plenty of classic Marvel characters from both the MCU and other adjacent universes.
With all that being said, The Direct has compiled 34 characters that are either rumored or confirmed to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
It wouldn't exactly be a Doctor Strange movie without Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Stephen Strange. Now more than five years into his MCU tenure, Cumberbatch is set to make his sixth appearance as Marvel's master sorcerer, although this is only his second solo movie after first debuting in Doctor Strange in 2016.
Fans last saw Strange working with Tom Holland's Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home, having cast the spell that first broke the Multiverse open in order to help Peter Parker with his identity crisis. The threequel ended with Strange performing the spell the way it was originally meant to be cast, leaving the world with no memories of Peter's existence.
Now, Strange will take on a whole new universe of trouble as he advances his sorcery skills, which is already confirmed to pit him with challenges he's never seen before.
The film's first synopsis teased Strange's status as a central figure amongst the Avengers while also showing that he's more ambitious than ever with magic. Of course, he's been the key figure in both of the movie's first two trailers, with plenty of footage giving a taste of where his journey will go.
While the MCU's core Doctor Strange will be the center of attention in his solo sequel, he won't be alone. In fact, he won't even be the only Doctor Strange that fans will meet in this adventure.
Defender Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Status: Confirmed
"The Multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little."
Once that Multiversal door is opened again in this new sequel, Stephen Strange will find out just how powerful and important he is in more than just his world. After freaking out at the sight of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men next to Tom Holland's MCU hero, he'll come face-to-face with different versions of himself in his next solo movie.
One of those is known as Defender Strange, which has the opportunity to give an exciting twist to one of Marvel Studios' most powerful heroes.
This version of Strange is classically a part of Marvel's Defenders team in the comics, having boasted partnerships with iconic characters like the Hulk and Valkyrie. Although the ponytail hairstyle he rocks is likely just to help differentiate him from the movie's titular hero, his outfit is almost identical to the one he wore while fighting alongside the Defenders.
The most recent spot from Super Bowl LVI confirmed this version of Strange will be a part of the plot after he was teased for a split second in the first trailer from December. He's also been rumored to come from the same universe as America Chavez, one of the film's other core protagonists, although exact plot specifics are still being kept under wraps.
More information on the second version of Doctor Strange will likely come in pieces over the next few weeks, although there's a third magician that will help lead the other side of the fight.
Sinister Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Status: Confirmed
"Things just got out of hand."
Completing the trio of Doctor Stranges is the recently named Sinister Strange, who made his creepy debut at the end of the sequel's first trailer.
Dressed in darker robes and sporting a more disheveled look than either of his counterparts, Sinister Strange started plenty of conversations when he first came to life. Benedict Cumberbatch's third character in this film became one of the first wild entries to be officially confirmed.
Part of what started so many discussions about him in Multiverse of Madness was the idea that this new Variant could be the same Doctor Strange Supreme seen in What If...?. However, this was debunked with the Super Bowl trailer's captions.
Sinister Strange is one that seems to be taking a much darker turn even than the MCU's animated sorcerer, who did everything he did almost purely out of grief.
No matter how his story is fleshed out, Sinister Strange is here in full force and ready to cause his own round of mayhem. And somehow, he's not the last Strange, as yet another version of the sorcerer made his way into the public eye shortly after this trio.
Supreme Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Status: Confirmed
In a universe that had only featured one Doctor Strange since his 2016 debut, the character's solo sequel is pulling out all the stops. The movie is now confirmed to bring a fourth good doctor into the mix.
While not much is known about him, a leaked Funko Pop! image teased the inclusion of another Doctor Strange Variant called "Supreme Strange." This take on Cumberbatch's hero sports lighter-colored blue robes than any of his contemporaries and is completely clean-shaven, which should help distinguish him from the ponytailed Defender Strange and the shaggy-looking Sinister Strange.
This appears to be the version of Strange that was depicted in a massive statue in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum, which the prime Strange was seen briefly admiring in footage from the Super Bowl trailer.
Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen)
Status: Confirmed
"I made mistakes, and people were hurt."
After nearly three years away from the big screen, Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch is here for her first Phase 4 theatrical movie.
Wanda Maximoff has had quite the journey since being snapped back into existence in Avengers: Endgame, as seen in her nine episodes of WandaVision on Disney+. That series ended with the heroine embracing her Scarlet Witch persona, and in the first trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, she was confirmed to play as big of a role as anybody.
The trailers have teased that Wanda will come into play due to Doctor Strange looking for her help with his new venture into the Multiverse. Now that Wanda is more powerful than ever, even seemingly allowing some dark magic from the Darkhold to take hold of her as seen in the shot of her floating in the air with blackened fingers and dark changes to her outfit.
Every bit of footage has shown just how pivotal of a role Wanda will have in this movie - all that remains to be seen is the specifics. However, as was the case with her co-starring sorcerer, there appears to be more than one Wanda that will make an impact on the plot.
Variant Wanda? (Elizabeth Olsen)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Elizabeth Olsen's longtime heroine wasn't the only Scarlet Witch to come on screen, as one fateful moment in Westview, New Jersey confirmed the existence of a Wanda Variant!
Only seen in a few seconds of footage, one version of Wanda was seen on her knees in her full Scarlet Witch outfit in tears as another version of herself looked down seemingly in anger. This Variant was dressed in a much more casual outfit and had bruises on her face, which could come from an upcoming battle between the two Scarlet Witches in their family home.
How this Wanda Variant comes into play and why she's a part of the story is very much unknown, especially since she's seen less than five seconds of screen time in the trailers thus far. In fact, this is the only scene that confirmed that the movie will feature Wanda Variants at all with the tie back to WandaVision.
Regardless, two Scarlet Witches can only mean that some wild magic is set to make its mark on this new story. The world and the Multiverse will be on high alert no matter which Wanda flies into action.
Wong (Benedict Wong)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Benedict Wong's Wong is one of the most important supporting players for Doctor Strange in the comics and on the big screen. It would be a crime if the master of magic didn't come back for more action in a second Doctor Strange solo movie.
Wong has actually been a bigger part of Phase 4 thus far than almost anybody in Multiverse of Madness with one scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home and his semi-cameo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The Spider-Man threequel even confirmed that he now has the title of Sorcerer Supreme after Strange blipped in Avengers: Infinity War, leaving him in charge of Kamar Taj and the training of all sorcerers.
Wong has appeared in every trailer and TV spot thus far, set to advise and protect Doctor Strange in his upcoming journey through the Multiverse. Not wanting anything to do with Strange's spell to help fix Peter Parker's life at the end of 2021, he'll absolutely have to be more involved this time around.
Fans haven't seen Wong cast much magic yet, but that Sorcerer Supreme title will have to be put to good use sooner rather than later.
America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
The biggest newcomer in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez, who was teased as early as Summer 2020. Gomez was cast in March 2021, and she's even seen a few seconds of action in the promotional material that confirms her impact on the story.
Coming in with incredible Multiversal abilities and the potential to lead the MCU's next wave of Young Avengers, America Chavez will help introduce Doctor Strange and Wanda to what she knows about the Multiverse. She's able to travel through multiple dimensions, and she's already been teased to have a relationship with the movie's core villains.
Gomez's heroine hasn't had any dialogue yet, but considering how often she's been discussed in talks about the movie, she's someone who can't be ignored. With plenty of Young Avengers already having debuted in Disney+ shows and movies alike, America Chavez should be just at the start of her exciting MCU tenure.
Gargantos
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Aside from the powerful humans that will drive the story forward in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, interdimensional monsters will make their MCU debut as well. The biggest of these comes with Gargantos, the one-eyed, green, slimy, tentacled alien who has been seen in every piece of promo material released to date.
The character was originally thought to be the villainous Shuma-Gorath, although legal issues didn't allow Marvel Studios to bring that specific entity onto the big screen. Now, Marvel is putting forth a different Multiversal monster in Gargantos, one who is already confirmed to cause some serious damage to an undisclosed city in his Marvel Studios debut.
Rumors are indicating that Gargantos is hunting America Chavez in order to steal her powers and gain full control of the Multiverse, although he's only been seen on-screen for a few seconds. He's had no lines and no specific backstory has been revealed for his character so far, but considering how powerful he's said to be, it's clear that there is plenty more to learn about his inclusion in the film.
It's looking likely that Gargantos will be the main villain of Multiverse of Madness, although that could easily change once the film debuts in full. No matter how the details pan out, this gargantuan creature won't be something easy for Doctor Strange and company to take down.
Rintrah
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Marvel isn't just getting a giant tentacled alien in the Doctor Strange sequel. The heroes' side of the fight also gets their own powerful being in a Minotaur known as Rintrah!
In the comics, the green and furry creature debuted in 1986 as a mystical being from the planet R'Vaal before going on numerous adventures with Doctor Strange. After being teased in various pieces of promo material, Rintrah made his first MCU appearance in the second trailer for Marvel Studios' first movie of 2022.
Thus far, Rintrah's only seen a couple of seconds of footage thus far, including a shot of his horse-like face from a distance away. Fans are looking forward to seeing more of the mystical creature in action, whether it be with his physical skills or his abilities with the mystic arts.
How the Minotaur comes into this story alongside Strange and the sorcerers at Kamar Taj is anybody's guess, as is the extent of how big his role will be. Regardless, there's no denying that Rintrah will be there to unleash his full powers in his MCU debut.
Master Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Chiwetel Ejiofor made his mark on 2016's Doctor Strange as his Baron Mordo helped the titular hero progress toward becoming a sorcerer, all before leaving Kamar Taj on his own quest to become even more powerful. While Ejiofor will still be playing Mordo in the solo sequel, it will seemingly be a different version of the powerful magician this time around.
This one is known as Master Mordo, who many are speculating to be a Variant that serves as the Sorcerer Supreme of his world. This version of Mordo boasts a more extravagant green costume along with top-notch black dreadlocks flowing from his head, and he also appears to have even more power than prime Mordo from the first movie.
In the trailers, this Mordo is seen in a fistfight with Doctor Strange, although his presence will go far beyond just that. He's also heard telling Strange "Your desecration of reality will not go unpunished."
Right now, it's unclear if the same Mordo from Doctor Strange will make an appearance in this movie alongside Master Mordo, with the former still likely after Strange for "violating the natural law." But even with that mystery, Master Mordo will add yet another new dimension of storytelling to this adventure, particularly with the Illuminati's rumored involvement.
Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
While she isn't exactly a love interest, Rachel McAdams' Christine Palmer did play a key role in helping Stephen Strange find himself as a man outside his magical journey. Although there are plenty of other powerful players coming into play, it would be almost a crime not to have her return for her second MCU appearance after first debuting in 2016's Doctor Strange.
When audiences last saw Christine, she put in her best effort to save the Ancient One before the former Sorcerer Supreme met her end. Christine sent Doctor Strange off on his mission to defeat Kaecillius and Dormammu in Hong Kong and the Dark Dimension, although she's been completely missing from Strange's stories for more than five years.
After her inclusion in the cast at Disney Investor Day 2020, the first trailer for Multiverse of Madness confirmed that Christine will indeed be back for more of the magic and craziness. However, as is the case with many other characters, the big question is exactly how many Christine Palmers there will be in this film.
Most of her footage thus far has been from her wedding, showing the leading lady in a white gown as she walks down the aisle and then runs outside to see what's happening to her world. This seems most likely to be prime Christine, but there's a version of McAdams' MCU doctor that could be someone completely different as well.
A quick shot from the Super Bowl TV spot showed a more casually-dressed Christine is seen in what appears to be the Illuminati's headquarters as Ultron Bots run beside her. At this time, it's unclear if these Christines are one and the same or if the one in the lab is a new Variant coming into play.
Regardless, Christine will be back for Round 2 in the MCU as she sees just how expansive the Multiverse truly is.
Nicodemus West (Michael Stuhlbarg)
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
Another one of Strange's co-workers will be back for the Doctor Strange sequel as Michael Stuhlbarg reprises his role as Dr. Nicodemus West.
Fans saw him involved in a workplace rivalry with Strange, although he only appeared in a couple of scenes in total. Things ended with West trying to help Strange and Christine Palmer in the emergency room to save the Ancient One's life, although it's a mystery where his story will go after that.
Stuhlbarg's character was seen for a split second in the first trailer next to the good doctor at Christine Palmer's wedding, bearing a huge grin on his face. He was also confirmed as part of the cast in one of the film's official synopsizes, but there's no telling how big his role will be in the overarching plot.
However big that role is, Dr. West will be back in action, ticking watch and all.
Ultron Drones
Marvel
Status: Confirmed
In October 2021, The Direct exclusively revealed that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would feature the return of Ultron sentries, which were rumored to come from a different universe. While their specific role is still somewhat unknown, the Super Bowl promotional material showed these robots making their glorious return after debuting in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The TV spot had one of these robots running beside Christine Palmer in the Illuminerdi's headquarters while the full new trailer showed them escorting Stephen Strange to what will likely be a hearing in front of the Illuminati. These drones seem to have gotten an upgrade in their design, which now looks much more sleek and refined compared to the look from seven years ago.
How long these drones are in the movie and what they will be doing specifically is still yet to be revealed. However, Ultron's sentry robots will be back in action for the first time since Phase 2 of the MCU in this massive sequel.
Sara
Funko Pop!
While no actress is confirmed for this role, another leaked Funko Pop! confirmed the appearance of a character named Sara. Based on her blue sorcerer's robes, Sara is likely a magical newcomer training at Kamar Taj alongside Strange, Wong, Rintrah, and more as the sequel is getting started.
One option for who this character could actually be is Sara Wofle, who briefly held the title of Wong's girlfriend in different runs of the comics. Other theories have pointed to this potentially being Sara Krowler, better known as both Baroness Mordo and Baron Mordo's mother, which could bring quite an interesting twist to this story.
Professor X (Patrick Stewart)
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
"We should tell him the truth."
The real madness behind this Multiversal outing now comes with the rumored inclusion of Patrick Stewart's Professor Charles Xavier.
Having played the role for 17 years with 20th Century Fox, rumors began teasing Stewart's jump to the MCU at the end of 2021. While he still isn't officially confirmed to be a part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the signs are all pointing in that direction.
Although Stewart denied it being the case, fans are convinced that his voice was the one that told Doctor Strange "we should tell him the truth" as the shot panned to an undisclosed person. With rumors of Marvel's Illuminati coming into play, Professor X would be a prime candidate to lead that Multiversal team considering his incredible power and intelligence.
Although Marvel is doing its best to keep Stewart's MCU debut as secretive as possible, the studio still seemingly included him in an official trailer three months ahead of his return. This will make for one of the biggest moments not only in Multiverse of Madness but in the MCU's history as a whole.
Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell)
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
Hayley Atwell is one of the MCU's longest-standing supporting players, having last appeared via voiceover in 2021's What If...? as the Multiversal Variant Captain Carter. In her universe, she was the one to receive the Super Soldier Serum in Project Rebirth before leading the Guardians of the Multiverse into battle against Infinity Ultron.
Now, a small glimpse of her shield on the Doctor Strange 2 poster may be teasing a transition to live-action for Atwell's new take on Peggy Carter.
Rumors had pointed to this being the case in July 2022, teasing that Atwell would play a small role as Captain Carter in the Multiversal sequel. With her shield showing up on the movie's poster, there's no way to ignore it as a real possibility.
Due to such a vast number of universes being explored in this movie, even one that may be animated, it wouldn't be too big of a shock relatively to see Atwell's Captain Carter make the transition to live-action stories. How she plays into the plot is still unknown, but there seems to be a real chance that she'll be there for the action.
Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch)
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
Captain Marvel's status is rising in a big way in Phase 4, with Brie Larson's character already having appeared in the mid-credits scene from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may be teasing the existence of another Captain Marvel that isn't Carol Danvers.
Who could that Variant be? None other than Lashana Lynch's Maria Rambeau.
The sequel's second trailer showed a version of Captain Marvel that appeared to have Lynch's face under the glowing white eyes as Captain Marvel flew into action. This confirms that a version of the heroine will make an appearance in the movie, especially as fans saw her fly headfirst toward Wanda Maximoff in what appeared to be the Illuminati's headquarters.
With Carol Danvers becoming more of a key player as Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau exploring her full potential as Spectrum, it appears that Lashana Lynch now has her time to shine as a hero. Nothing will be confirmed until the film releases, but this new version of Captain Marvel could make a major impact on the Multiverse.
Bruce Campbell's Undisclosed Character
Marvel
Status: Semi-Confirmed
Sam Raimi has turned many of his filmmaking decisions into regular moves over the years, including his partnership with longtime actor Bruce Campbell.
Campbell has a history in the Marvel world with roles in all three of Raimi's Spider-Man films from 2002 to 2007. He was even rumored to play Raimi's version of Mysterio in the unmade Spider-Man 4 after playing a wrestling announcer, a theater usher, and a maitre d' in his first three superhero outings.
Campbell is an interesting addition to this list, as he's already confirmed that he will have a role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. What isn't known yet is who exactly he will be playing in this wild adventure.
Will he finally get the chance to bring a different version of Mysterio to life? Will it be another classic Marvel character? Will it simply be a background player in the middle of the action?
That will all come to light when Campbell actually appears on-screen.
Loki (Tom Hiddleston)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Tom Hiddleston is in an interesting situation in regard to his potential appearance as Loki in Multiverse of Madness.
Immediately after the sixth episode of Loki aired on Disney+, Hiddleston was said to have joined the cast of Benedict Cumberbatch's solo Doctor Strange sequel. However, neither Hiddleston nor anybody involved with either project has spoken about Loki being a part of the plot at all.
Although Hiddleston's appearance was reported by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the most reliable sources in the business, Loki hasn't been a part of any promotional material on-screen or in merchandise. It's unclear how big his role will be in the sequel, or how he enters the fray, but after opening the Multiverse in his own solo series, he'll have to put his best efforts in to fix everything in front of him.
Mobius (Owen Wilson)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Loki built up a relationship with both Owen Wilson's Mobius and Sophia Di Martino's Sylvie through his six-episode series, although there was no confirmation for where and when they would continue. Rumors pointed to them following the God of Mischief into Doctor Strange 2, but just like Hiddleston, no other reports have discussed their place in the story.
Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Fans last saw Mobius in a bit of a frenzy at the TVA headquarters after the Multiverse broke while Sylvie remained at the Citadel at the End of Time after killing He Who Remains. There is certainly a path for them to traverse the Multiverse and reunite with Loki as everything descends into madness, but that will remain a secret likely until the film debuts.
Billy & Tommy Maximoff (Julian Hilliard & Jett Klyne)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
WandaVision allowed the titular Wanda Maximoff to have a life with her family, which included classic young Avengers Billy & Tommy Maximoff. Her twin sons, also known by their superhero monikers of Wiccan and Speed, were lost when Wanda's Hex faded from reality, but there's still a path for them to rejoin the fray in Doctor Strange 2.
Reports revealed that Marvel took a couple of days to film a scene featuring Billy and Tommy set on some sort of country farm. How this ties into the movie is anybody's guess, but it wouldn't come as too big of a shock to see Wanda's twin sons come back for their second MCU project.
The Scarlet Witch is trying to do anything she can to get her family back, the first teases of which are seen as she hears her sons' voices in her head while she floats in the air. Although they won't be confirmed as part of the cast for a while, their return is firmly on the list of possibilities.
Mr. Fantastic (John Krasinski)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
There are no signs pointing to when Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four will go into production or release, but rumors are pointing to Doctor Strange 2 bringing in the first member. One of the numerous cameos rumored to come into this movie is the group's leader, Reed Richards, who is said to be played by fan-favorite John Krasinski.
The man behind Jim Halpert in The Office has been one of the most popular fan-casts for the MCU's version of Dr. Richards, and whether he plays the core MCU version or not, he may have the opportunity to break the mold for Marvel Studios.
How much screen time is in store for Krasinski? There's no way to tell for sure. But should he make his MCU debut, it will undoubtedly be a headlining moment from this sequel.
Black Bolt (Anson Mount)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
One of Marvel's most maligned properties is the Inhumans TV show, which only ran for one eight-episode season on ABC in 2017. The Inhumans have haven't been explored in the larger MCU, but the group's leader, Black Bolt, is part of rumors for one of Doctor Strange 2's major cameo appearances.
Anson Mount brought the immensely powerful Inhuman king to life in the ABC series, boasting a voice that kills and destroys anything in range.
It's unclear if there are any official plans to introduce the Inhumans officially, although rumors are pointing to this being the case in Ms. Marvel. Should Black Bolt appear in Doctor Strange 2, it would open the door for these unique super-powered beings to join a growing Multiverse's worth of heroes.
Clea (Charlize Theron)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Another powerful sorcerer in Marvel's catalog is Clea, who has long been rumored for a potential role in the MCU. With ties to the Dark Dimension and a history with Dormammu, the magic-wielder has now come up again in talks about Doctor Strange 2, this time with Charlize Theron potentially attached to the role.
Theron has been connected to the MCU on multiple occasions, although she's indicated that Marvel's never asked her to take on a role before. Having her play Clea would tie in fairly easily with her history alongside strange in the comics, and even if she doesn't play a big role in this movie, a cameo could set the stage for a bigger role in the future.
Balder the Brave
Marvel
Status: Rumored
While no actor is attached to the next rumor, it teases the potential inclusion of a famous Asgardian named Balder the Brave.
The character is known as Thor's half-brother and an ally of the Warriors Three in the comics, having served as one of Asgard's greatest warriors over the years. How he actually joins the story in Multiverse of Madness is a whole other mystery, particularly with no other Asgardians rumored to be joining the plot otherwise.
Balder is rumored to be from another universe in this movie, although this wouldn't be Doctor Strange's first interaction with an Asgardian after his time with Thor and Loki in Thor: Ragnarok. The longtime comic hero will most likely remain under the radar officially for the time being, although his introduction in Doctor Strange 2 could bring a new level of thrills, especially with Thor: Love and Thunder debuting in July.
Magneto
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Where there's a Professor X, there's often a Magneto. And in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Erik Lehnsherr may not be far behind his old friend, Charles Xavier.
Along with rumors featuring everyone from Inhumans to Asgardians, this sequel may bring in a version of the classic X-Men antagonist for a short moment on screen. Whether it's Sir Ian McKellan from the original Fox trilogy, Michael Fassbender from the 2010s, or a completely new actor is unknown at the moment, but Doctor Strange should certainly be on the lookout for any fast-moving metal.
Another mystery is whether Magneto will interact with Patrick Stewart's Professor X, which would bring the entire Marvel universe full circle with those two driving the original X-Men trilogy. Should this come to play, generations of superhero movie fans would be in for the event of a lifetime.
Iron Man Variant (Tom Cruise)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
In the canon MCU, Tony Stark hasn't been seen since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, but his influence remains strong throughout Phase 4. It seems fitting that there are rumors about a new Tony Variant coming into this movie, one that's played by legendary action star Tom Cruise!
The man behind Mission: Impossible has a history with the role, as he was actually in the running to play Iron Man in 2008 before Downey took it. While Cruise's potential role in Doctor Strange 2 is still a mystery, there are a couple of key pieces of evidence that lead to him being there for the fight.
The Super Bowl TV spot for Multiverse of Madness showed what appeared to be a version of Iron Man, which fans are already theorizing to be the evil Superior Iron Man. Additionally, an alleged leaked screening of the movie teases that Cruise is in fact on screen playing the role.
This rumor won't be substantiated until early May, but it's one that has fans talking nonetheless.
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds)
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Whenever Deadpool inevitably comes into the MCU, he'll unquestionably be played by Ryan Reynolds. When that happens is anybody's guess, but the Merc With a Mouth finds himself in the middle of rumors pointing toward an MCU debut in Doctor Strange 2.
Looking at the sequel's first official poster, fans believed they saw a hint of Wade Wilson in one of the broken shards of glass surrounding Doctor Strange.
Now, Reynolds has denied the rumor by telling the world flat out that he isn't in Doctor Strange 2. This same sentiment came through shortly after Reynolds' denial, as movie insider John Campea shared information that made him supremely confident about Deadpool not being in the movie.
This will be another wait-and-see situation, although it may not be one of the more likely ones. But, as Reynolds said, everybody involved could be lying.
Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)
Marvel
After more than a year of silence on the matter, Tobey Maguire caused cheers all over the world when he returned as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Since then, he's spoken about just how special it was for him to reprise his iconic superhero role, and there's even a chance that he'll be back in the red-and-blue spandex sooner than anyone expected.
Rumors hinted that Maguire would, in fact, be back with Marvel Studios in some capacity for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The rumor didn't tease the extent of his role or how he would play into the plot, but the chance that Strange may interact with a web-slinger again seems only fitting after he did it in the biggest movie of last year.
Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield)
Marvel
With the tease that Peter 2 may be in for Round 2 in the MCU, the same can also be said for Peter 3.
Following his long-awaited MCU debut as the Amazing Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Andrew Garfield may be in line for another chance to play the web-slinger in Doctor Strange's solo sequel. The rumors for his return haven't been quite as public as those for Maguire, but he does remain in the discussion.
Should he return, it likely won't be in quite as big of a role as he played in No Way Home, where he and Maguire drove the third act home alongside Tom Holland. Even so, seeing him at all would bring plenty of excitement for the Spidey fandom.
Wolverine
Marvel
Status: Rumored
Professor X and Magneto are one thing when it comes to the X-Men finally arriving in the MCU. Throw a potential Wolverine into that mix, and it could be cause for even more mayhem in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
According to a rumor from Joe Deckelmeier of The Illuminerdi, the magical sequel will feature a version of James Logan that isn't played by Hugh Jackman. Whether this is the MCU's core take on the clawed mutant or if it's just a Multiversal Variant is a mystery. But the opportunity is there for arguably the X-Men's most famous hero to charge into the fray.
As is the case with other characters, there are no signs pointing to how big Wolverine's role will be. Even so, he'll add another layer of anticipation to the faction of X-Men possibly making their MCU debut this year.
Which Marvel Characters Will Appear in Doctor Strange 2?
Marvel
With two months remaining until Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness debuts, Marvel will be tight-lipped on revealing any truth to rumors about the characters included in this list. Fans won't stop talking until that time, but these rumors will only remain rumors until the appropriate time.
Now, the fandom approaches the home stretch for this sequel's promotional tour with it being the next theatrical release on Marvel's massive slate. More than a dozen characters are undoubtedly appearing in the new movie while nearly another two dozen are in discussions - safe to say, Marvel Studios has yet another event on its hands.
