Marvel fans continue the countdown for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is weeks away from its May 6 theatrical release. The stakes are high in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel that will show the dark aftermath of the teetering multiverse.
The trailers and TV spots have boosted the grim and horror-esque nature of the multiversal movie, leaving many fans anxious to see what unravels in the MCU. The upcoming sequel will likely be cinematic chaos, perhaps exceeding the grand spectacle of previous MCU movies. It does not hurt to refresh on the stories from Marvel movies and TV shows critical to setting up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The original X-Men trilogy focused on the complicated politics of being a mutant, from prejudice and bigotry to conflicting philosophies on whether humans and mutants can co-exist. The dynamic between Professor X and Magneto became pivotal to aligning the differing coalition, while also introducing characters like Wolverine and Storm to the big screen.
Since the merger between Disney and 21st Century Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios acquired the rights to the X-Men characters. The X-Men are not in the MCU, at least not yet. The latest trailer may have suggested the mutants' existence in the MCU, with a subtle revelation of a peculiar Professor X heard in the background to support this notion.
X-Men: Days of Future Past develops the time-traveling storyline by bringing the original and new X-Men cast to reset the timeline and save mutants from a devastating future. The time-traveling elements emulate the dire essence of the multiverse in the Multiverse of Madness. This time-traveling film could likely be the impetus for Professor X's presence in the upcoming sequel to explain the multiversal consequences.
It is unclear if the X-Men are officially in the MCU, but wild fan theories suggest that Wanda Maximoff could be the center of the mutants' emergence. Comic book fans know about Wanda's mutant origins and daughter of Magento, which could be critical for their inception. The MCU never depicted Wanda Maximoff as a mutant, but this chain of events could change this trajectory.
With Wanda Maximoff a crucial character in the Multiverse of Madness, her debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron is worth revisiting. The second Avenger installment introduced powerful twins, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, originating as HYDRA experiments developing superspeed and telekinesis before becoming full-fledged Avengers.
The film sets up Wanda's crucial arc with a glimpse of her telekinetic powers and her developing relationship with an android, Vision. Unfortunately, her story has been heartbreaking in the entirety of her appearance in the MCU, with Age of Ultron setting this chain reaction with her brother's death. Therefore, Age of Ultron is essential to relook at her early beginnings and witness her transformation since the Battle of Sokovia.
Doctor Strange introduced the titular character, a talented neurosurgeon destined for something more. His accident was the catalyst that would prepare him to become the Sorcerer Supreme, and inheriting such a title would make him one of the most powerful superheroes in the MCU. So far, Doctor Strange has proven his magical prowess, but the upcoming sequel may further his fullest potential.
Doctor Strange is the center of the upcoming sequel, so rewatching his origin story would be necessary for his character development. The standalone film develops other plotlines like his friendship with Wong and clashes with Karl Mordo, who returns in Multiverse of Madness with unfinished business.
In Avengers: Infinity War, the universe goes up against Thanos, who plans to snap half of it from existence with the Infinity Stones. Therefore, all hands were on deck to defend the remaining stones from being possessed by Thanos.
Wanda and Doctor Strange were key players in protecting the mind and time stone. They proved themselves as strong challengers to Thanos by unleashing immense powers to fend him off. These incredible sequences include Doctor Strange's trickery in Titan and Wanda single-handedly fighting the Chitauri in Wakanda. Therefore, watching Infinity War highlights their extraordinary powers manifesting and why they are the most powerful MCU characters. Furthermore, Wanda's tragic loss sets the motion for her dark character arc leading up to Multiverse of Madness.
While Captain Marvel is not the most required movie to watch, learning about characters like Maria and Monica Rambeau would conveniently surmise their significance in the MCU. This is especially the case for Monica, who eventually does encounter Wanda in the subsequent future.
A sequence from the Multiverse of Madness trailer hints at a blazing figure in the guise of Captain Marvel. However, this Captain Marvel-esque figure may not necessarily be Carol Danvers. Some fans theorize a different variant like Maria Rambeau.
Avengers: Endgame was the epic conclusion of the Infinity Saga, in which the Avengers, again, face Thanos. While this fourth installment ended the story arcs for the original members, it also marked the beginning for many others.
Wanda and Doctor Strange only appear in the final battle on Earth after the Blip revived the perished Avengers. Endgame is not essential, but rewatching a few battle sequences is encouraged, especially for an enraged Wanda, who almost effortlessly annihilated Thanos on the battlefield. Her sadness from losing Vision sets the groundwork for her poignant arc in Multiverse of Madness.
Wanda will have a significant presence in the Multiverse of Madness, with much of her tragic character arc developed in WandaVision. Despite Vision's death in Infinity War, Wanda created the Hex, in which she controlled Westview and dwelled in a sitcom lifestyle with a projection of Vision. However, the series became far more nuanced, delving into the alternate realities, chaos magic, and Wanda's perceived salvation.
WandaVision is a pivotal series leading up to Multiverse of Madness due to Wanda's character development, her transformation into the Scarlet Witch, and her possession of the Darkhold. Furthermore, the series ends with her last whereabouts and subsequent motives (her twins, specifically) to set up her plotline in Multiverse of Madness.
Considering the multiverse is a major theme, the series that sets up this comprehension is Loki. This series dives deep into the multiversal concepts of the Nexus and the consequences of branching timelines.
The effects of a timeline branching will only bring further instability, as highlighted in the Multiverse of Madness. While characters like Loki and Mobius may not appear in the Doctor Strange sequel, Loki critically explains the multiverse aspects that will be significant in the MCU moving forward.
The animated series What If...? is worth investing time into watching, given the revelations from the trailer. While the series depicts the alternate realities if the MCU had moved in a different direction, many fans never imagined the significance of its stories leading up to Multiverse of Madness. The most unforgettable episode is episode 4, centered around Doctor Strange's alternate universe.
This episode takes a deep dark turn, in which Doctor Strange becomes empowered as a dark Strange Supreme. Little did anyone anticipate that the realities of this episode would transition into the big screen, with the trailer appearance of a dark Doctor Strange. Other episodes include Captain Carter and Zombie Avengers, referenced in the poster and trailer. With this subtle Doctor Strange connection, What If...? is more important than previously perceived.
Spider-Man: No Way Home sets the stage for Multiverse of Madness after Doctor Strange's spell unleashes the multiverse. It manifested the multiversal phenomenon, with villains hauled from a different universe and other cinematic surprises. However, the ramifications of the multiverse are just the beginning.
Peter Parker's erasure from existence was only a temporary solution to preserve the multiverse, but the worst has yet to unfold. Doctor Strange's mistake will come back to bite him, as the multiverse remains unstable. The No Way Home event demonstrates that the Multiverse of Madness is the direct aftermath that will further delve into the mystery of the multiverse and its consequences.
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