It’s no surprise that fans are ready for the next Marvel film. So, when a new TV spot for Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness unveiled during the Super-Bowl, it was time for fans to start freaking out. Not to mention since the TV spot had fans going online to watch the FULL trailer. The hype for the movie increased tenfold as the new trailer gave fans more than what they were expecting.
Madness? Check. Multiverse?! Check.
Those who are fans of the Marvel franchise know and understand how they got to this point so far of the franchise where the multiverse seems to be unraveling itself. Those who are new to the franchise or those who want to know ahead before watching the film might have trouble understanding. Though it is best and recommended to watch all the movies and shows to fully understand the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are shortcuts you can take for this film and luckily, it’s not a lot.
Where to start?
It would be good idea to watch the first Doctor Strange film. You should know Doctor Strange’s origin story and the people who are part of his journey, primarily for the film it would be Wong and Mordo.
- “Loki”
Why is Loki important for a Doctor Strange film? The character may not be important to the film, but it explores the sacred timeline and variants which is important to understand before watching the film. Variants will play a part in the film as you saw in the trailer that there’s more than one Doctor Strange, more than one Wanda Maximoff, more than one Christine Palmer and possibly a variant Mordo. The ending of “Loki” also mentions the multiverse through a certain character that will play a big part in the MCU and could potentially see another variant of in the film.
The animated series flips the MCU as you know it as it explores the various multiverses where things are different from the current MCU timeline. Episode 4 is mainly about a different Doctor Strange taking a sinister path and the aftermath of his actions. You can see the connections they made with animation series and in the film’s trailer. Also, it’s a bit ironic how the shattered glass plays a part in “What If…?” and the “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” movie poster.
(Sidenote: you could also watch episode 5 as the TV Spot showed audiences a glimpse of what looks like Zombie Strange and Zombie Wanda. You might also want to watch episode 1 as it’s rumored that Captain Carter will make a live debut in the film.)
This is a BIG one as Wanda Maximoff will play a big part in the film and she looks to be the film’s main villain. The series goes into depth about Wanda becoming the Scarlet Witch, the strength of her powers, and the emotional turmoil she is facing. It will give you an understanding why Wanda is the way she is in the trailer.
Don’t you wonder why you see two forms of her in the trailer? One is in her Scarlet Witch attire in tears and the other Wanda is looking at her in regular clothes in a familiar-looking house.
Must this be explained? Doctor Strange played a pivotal role as he was the one who performed the spell that allowed the gateways of the multiverse to be opened. (Peter changing the spell various times didn’t help either) Thus, he has meddled with the fabric of reality again and it looks like the repercussions of it are coming back at him. As the trailer showed him getting arrested for desecrating reality, according to Mordo.
The multiverse is real.
Those are the movies and shows you should watch before going to watch “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” in theaters. Majority of them you could watch on Disney+, except for “Spider-Man: No Way Home” that is currently available to watch in theaters.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” will premiere in theaters on May 6 and it’s a movie you don’t want to miss out on as it will probably expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.