DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE Reportedly Considered A Surprising Supervillain For Earth-838's Illuminati

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness took us to Earth-838 and introduced a new version of the Illuminati, and it's now been revealed that a fan-favourite supervillain was almost part of the roster.

By JoshWilding - Mar 28, 2024 06:03 AM EST

Filed Under: In the Multiverse of Madness

It's no secret that Marvel Studios considered multiple characters for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' Illuminati. After several rounds of reshoots, the sequel settled on Captain Carter, Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, Master Mordo, Professor X, and Captain Marvel.

It was an undeniably impressive lineup, albeit one which was overshadowed by all those earlier rumours (Magneto was once expected to appear, as was Daniel Craig as Balder the Brave).

Now, The Cosmic Circus' Alex Perez has claimed that there was a version of the Doctor Strange sequel which featured Doctor Doom as a member of the Illuminati. It's unclear whether Julian McMahon would have reprised his Fantastic Four role or whether Doom would have been depicted as the "Infamous Iron Man" and the creator of those Ultron drones.

Marvel Studios instead decided to enlist John Krasinski to play Reed Richards, making those fan casts a reality, at last. Unfortunately, it was a one-and-done for the actor as Pedro Pascal has since been cast as Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four reboot.

As for Doctor Doom, rumour has it he'll make a cameo appearance in the movie. That's only expected to be a post-credits scene, meaning the Latverian dictator is unlikely to make his presence felt in the wider MCU until The Fantastic Four sequel or one of the upcoming Avengers movies.

Talking about his Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness cameo, Sir Patrick Stewart recently said, "I was alone. I think that the big scene, each one of the leading actors had the same experience. They were shot on their own." He'd go on to call it a "frustrating and disappointing" process and added, "That's how it's been...the last few years have been challenging."

When it was put to Stewart that Professor X has now died four times on screen, the Star Trek: Picard star all but confirmed he'll return in Deadpool & Wolverine. "I do now have every confidence that he's still around. [Deadpool 3] has come up. There's been a process."

Sam Raimi helmed the Doctor Strange sequel after the first movie's director, Scott Derrickson, parted ways with Marvel Studios over creative differences.

"The movie I wanted to make and how I wanted to make it was different than...it was just increasingly obvious that we were pulling against each other," Derrickson has since explained. "And that’s how you make a really bad movie, I think. When the producer or the studio and the filmmaker are making different movies, you end up with a monstrosity and, you know, that’s why I had to bounce."

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now streaming on Disney+.

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23 Comments

FireandBlood - 3/28/2024, 7:04 AM

You know they’re wishing they went ahead with it after the Majors fiasco

KennKathleen - 3/28/2024, 7:11 AM

@FireandBlood - I was thinking after the end result of MoM. I would love to see what Scott originally had in mind.

ComicBookPsycho - 3/28/2024, 7:45 AM

@FireandBlood - Not if he was gonna get clapped from Wanda

FireandBlood - 3/28/2024, 7:56 AM

@ComicBookPsycho - It’s Doom. He wouldn’t.

Matchesz - 3/28/2024, 9:13 AM

@KennKathleen - I remember the early days of the MCU when they claimed sequels would be self contained solo stories, they dont even follow their own rules now. But a Dr Strange solo sequel with Nightmare you know would have been fire

WhatIfRickJames - 3/28/2024, 7:12 AM

Of Madness

HammerLegFoot - 3/28/2024, 7:12 AM

When Batman smiles.
When Spider-Man isnt cracking jokes.
When Magneto says "Never again".
When Doctor Doom says "Bullock".
You know its a wrap

FireandBlood - 3/28/2024, 7:20 AM

Also did anybody else misread that as DOCTOR DOOM IN THE MULTIVERSE because of the banner and think what type of fire shit did we miss out on now?

VISIONaryNPa1 - 3/28/2024, 7:38 AM

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE

GeneralZod - 3/28/2024, 7:39 AM

Reportedly*.

MotherGooseUPus - 3/28/2024, 7:42 AM

was rewatching that movie last night between periods of the bruins/lightning game... man, what a wasted opportunity that movie was. I liked it more than most, but, it could of been better SOOOOO much better. And Wanda. Poor Wanda... But anyways, i just hope whoever they pick as Doom does the villain justice

Gmoney84 - 3/28/2024, 7:55 AM

Daniel Craig would make an awesome Doom.

TheVisionary25 - 3/28/2024, 8:00 AM

@Gmoney84 - damn , never thought about it but I agree!!.

He could be a good Magneto too

TheVisionary25 - 3/28/2024, 7:58 AM

Interesting…

Would have been cool if he was the Iron Man of that universe and The Ultron drones were his creations (pretty much stand ins for The Doombots).

It could have been Julian McMahon but I think like Krasinski’s Reed , we would have gotten a fancast come to life…

Maybe Mads Mikkelsen finally?.

IAmAHoot - 3/28/2024, 8:39 AM

Almost didn't click because I didn't read the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse comic.

bobevanz - 3/28/2024, 8:55 AM

You mean that scarlet witch movie with Strange? Lol

Batmangina - 3/28/2024, 8:58 AM

Did they consider not making a bait and switch turd sandwich?

Matchesz - 3/28/2024, 9:08 AM

Convinced they put ideas in a bowl and everyone take turns drawing them while they’re all hammered at their activist company parties

DemonTweeks - 3/28/2024, 9:21 AM

just dont give Conor McGregor the role

TheVisionary25 - 3/28/2024, 9:29 AM

@DemonTweeks - lol, I doubt it

I enjoyed him in Road House since he was just playing an even more amped up version of himself.

Spoken - 3/28/2024, 9:22 AM

Reportedly he was going to be in the after credits scene for Black Panther WF..."Reportedly".........

marvel72 - 3/28/2024, 10:25 AM

Just imagine Doctor Strange Vs Doctor Doom.

How great that would have been.

Twenty23Three - 3/28/2024, 1:56 PM

Enough taking the sting out of characters showing up by showing alternative universe versions first.

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DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE Reportedly Considered A Surprising Supervillain For Earth-838's Illuminati

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness took us to Earth-838 and introduced a new version of the Illuminati, and it's now been revealed that a fan-favourite supervillain was almost part of the roster.

Original DOCTOR STRANGE 2 Writer Says There Are "Two Versions" Of The Sequel; Details Marvel Experience

Patrick Stewart Reflects On "Frustrating And Disappointing" DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS Cameo