Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch, the ending for the upcoming sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, changed somewhat during filming. Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which saw Strange carelessly cast a memory spell to protect Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and inadvertently opened a rift in the multiverse, the sorcerer must enlist the help of Wong, (Benedict Wong), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) to keep the universe together. Directed by Sam Raimi, the sequel will feature an expansive cast of characters including variants of MCU heroes as well as cameos from other universes. Kevin Feige and his team of writers famously plan the arcs of their characters ahead of time in phases, with the current MCU slate running up until 2032. But sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a worldwide viral pandemic or the death of an actor, plans must change quickly, resulting in rewrites and reshoots. Even the Avengers: Endgame finale had sections that were reshot due to the fact that principal photography on the film was completed before Avengers: Infinity War was released and adjustments needed to be made.
Cumberbatch recently sat down with JOE.ie (via Comic Book) to discuss the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The star explained that the ending was still not set in stone during the initial days of production. Read what Cumberbatch said below.
Bruce Campbell, who is rumored to make a cameo appearance in his long-time friend Sam Raimi's upcoming film, has explained that Doctor Strange 2 had extensive reshoots due to Marvel Studios constantly adjusting its overarching storyline with so many projects going at any given time. As future films begin, with months of filming ahead, the stories are likely to change if one interconnected MCU project wraps containing plot elements that directly affect others. Doctor Strange 2 has proven to be no exception as the film had undergone re-shoots well into March of this year. Marvel's upcoming multiverse adventure is shaping up to be one of the defining films of the current MCU phase, introducing new characters and possibly setting up storylines that will continue for the next few years. Due to the overall complexity of the narrative, along with a litany of confirmed and rumored cameos, such as Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter, it is no wonder that the ending was not committed to at the start of production. With its May release date fast approaching, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises to kick off the summer with a fantastical experience.
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