Doctor Strange sequel still on track to start filming in June

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Marvel Studios has delayed the release of BLACK WIDOW and had to shut down production on their film SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but during the shutdown they have been continuing to push the DOCTOR STRANGE sequel DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS forward toward its planned production start date, which is just a couple months away. 

Variety reports that, 

the biggest film in pre-production that has yet to move its start date is Marvel’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Pre-production has continued remotely on the superhero film, and sources say it is still on track to start shooting in June.

DOCTOR STRANGE director Scott Derrickson had been signed on to direct MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, but chose to vacate the director's chair over creative differences in January. One month later, we heard that Sam Raimi was in talks to direct the film. It has never been officially confirmed that Raimi closed the deal, but with pre-production still moving forward we're assuming that it's doing so under Raimi's guidance.

Derrickson remains on board the project as an executive producer. Most fans expected him and his DOCTOR STRANGE co-writer C. Robert Cargill to write the screenplay for the sequel, but they never did work on a draft. Instead, the screenplay was written by Jade Bartlett. Michael Waldron, showrunner of Marvel's upcoming Disney+ series Loki, was recently hired to do a rewrite.

Benedict Cumberbatch will be reprising the role of Doctor Stephen Strange, with his DOCTOR STRANGE co-stars Benedict Wong and Chiwetel Ejiofor returning as Wong and Mordo, respectively. Rachel McAdams is not coming back as Strange's love interest Doctor Christine Palmer. Cumberbatch's AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and AVENGERS: ENDGAME co-star Elizabeth Olsen will be in the film as her super-powered character Scarlet Witch, as it's tied in with her Disney+ series WandaVision.

Depending on how things go with this pandemic, the start date of DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS may have to be delayed after all, but as of right now everyone intends to be on set in June.