Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness moves back six months

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

BLACK WIDOW, the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was supposed to reach theatres within the next month, but its release has been delayed six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic – and that delay means that Disney and Marvel Studios have also had to shift the release dates of six other movies they have lined up to follow BLACK WIDOW.

Among the films that had their release dates moved back because of this is one we're keeping an eye on here at Arrow in the Head, the DOCTOR STRANGE sequel, which has the awesome title DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Originally scheduled to reach theatres on May 7, 2021, the film is now set for a November 5, 2021 release.

A couple weeks ago, we heard that pre-production on MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS was still underway, being done remotely so the project could stay on track to go into production in June. If it's safe for filming to begin by then. If it's not, at least now the filmmakers have an extra six months to get it together.

DOCTOR STRANGE director Scott Derrickson had been signed on to take the helm of the sequel, then stepped away due to creative differences in January. His replacement is rumored to be Sam Raimi, but Raimi's involvement has never been officially announced.

Whoever directs the movie will be working from a screenplay by Jade Bartlett and Michael Waldron. 

Benedict Cumberbatch will be reprising the role of Doctor Strange, and he'll be joined in the cast by Benedict Wong and Chiwetel Ejiofor as returning characters Wong and Mordo. Cumberbatch's AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and AVENGERS: ENDGAME co-star Elizabeth Olsen will also be joining the action as her super-powered character Scarlet Witch, as the story is tied in with her Disney+ series WandaVision.