Since it debuted in theaters worldwide earlier this month,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesshas left more than a few questions unanswered. In addition to the multiple cameos and loose endings, the film included the first-ever mention of the incursions, a new idea that could radically change the future of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.
The incursions are a crucial concept in the MCU and refer to the moment in which the multiverse timeline contracts. While they are briefly mentioned inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the 2015 comic book miniseriesSecret Warsprovides further insight into their origins and the true consequences that incursions have on the fabric of time. The fact that the film decided to introduce the concept teases the possibility ofaSecret Warsstoryline.
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In a recent interview with Gizmodo, writer Michael Waldron addressed Marvel’s choice to include the notion of incursions inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessand what implications it may have on the saga. While not directly mentioning an upcominglive-action adaptation ofSecret Wars, Waldron did explain that previous Marvel Studios projects introduced concepts and immediately teased what would come next, such asAvengersmentioning space as a way to foreshadow Thanos. “Well, I guess I think of it akin to it in the way that as soon as the MCU introduced the notion of space, of going to space, they teased Thanos almost immediately. There wasThor. And thenAvengerswas the first movie where there was a threat from the stars. And here comes Thanos. Obviously, there was a big build from there,” Waldron said. “So I think that maybe I always thought of the multiverse as kind of like, ‘OK, this is space.’ You know, once upon a time, the MCU left Earth and went to the stars, now we’re going into the multiverse. So yeah we’ll see what happens with these incursions. They’re bad news.”
Without giving too much away, it’s safe to say thatDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessis a much darker film than its 2016 predecessor. Having a director like Sam Raimi —who returned to Marvel after 15 years— incorporate his horror background into the film was a bold move that ultimately paid off, asDoctor Strange 2grossed $187 millionat the domestic box office on its opening weekend. The sequel also managed to perform well with critics, though it did receive a lesser score thanDoctor Strange 1on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics and audiences alike praised the film’s visuals and performances. However,some people criticizedDoctor Strange 2’s paceand its inability to convey complex concepts. Nevertheless, the film took some well-needed risks that could potentially impact upcoming MCU projects, such as a possibleSecret Warsstoryline.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessis currently playing in theaters.
