In 2022, Doctor Strange returned to our screens with a rather strange yet kind of horror film, The Multiverse of Madness. This film was quite unique when compared to the other Marvel films, as Marvel doesn’t usually include the theme of horror in many of its theatrical releases, but I’m certainly glad that it does. Doctor Strange 2 brought in certain new characters and cast members that we haven’t seen in quite some time.
For example, who would have thought to see Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of the X-Men, as a member of the Illuminati? I didn’t see that coming. So in this article I’m going to talk about the cast of Doctor Strange 2 and all the characters in the Multiverse of Madness. So create a time loop with the time stone, or make sure no one bothers you by using a magical cloak as we delve into the mystical world of Doctor Strange!
1. Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange)
Doctor Stephen Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is one of the best casting decisions ever made in Marvel Studios history. For some “strange” reason, even if you’ve never read the comic version of Doctor Strange, you’ll immediately get a good feeling when you see him play the all-powerful wizard. For those who have read the comics, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Multiverse of Madness explores the unhealed side of Doctor Strange, the pain he feels when he loses the love of his life and still convinces himself that he is indeed happy. Dr Strange’s character development from the first film was absolutely flawless to watch, and in Doctor Strange 2 it’s as good as it gets.
2. Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda/Scarlet Witch)
When we talk about great performances, no one can match Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda. Well, she’s great in the role, both literally and figuratively. She is a integral part of the Avengers and one of the most powerful Avengers too, but gradually lost it when she had to kill Vision Wanda Vision.
Then she took the Darkhold and was corrupted by it. The entire film revolves around Wanda trying to use America Chavez’s powers to travel to an alternate universe where another version of her has the children she sees in her dreams.
While her cause is not evil and rather purely out of maternal instinct, the way she carries it out is as evil as it gets. Honestly, I find the damaged version of Wanda more fun to watch in Doctor Strange 2 than her Avengers version. Seeing her use the full extent of her powers just shows how much she’s been holding back all this time, and it’s quite fascinating.
3. Xochitl Gomez (America Chavez)
For those of you who don’t know, America Chavez is one of those characters that was part of the Young Avengers in the comics. I don’t know what’s going on in the MCU, but they’ve teased a lot of Young Avengers characters and I don’t mind seeing something fun and fresh from the studio. So yeah, make it happen, Marvel.
However, in Doctor Strange 2, Chavez is hunted by Wanda for her powers to travel across the Multiverse. Wanda plans to strip America of her powers so she can use them to get to her children in an alternate timeline, killing Chavez in the process. Initially in the film, Chavez cannot control her powers, but later, in the need of the hour, she figures out how to do so to save everyone from Wanda’s wrath.
4. Benedict Wong (Wong)
One of the most beloved characters in the Doctor Strange universe has to be Wong. He’s one of those characters that keeps showing up whenever there’s an event related to Doctor Strange, and I’m not complaining about it at all. Wong not only plays an integral role in the films he is a part of, but also provides good comic relief in serious circumstances.
In Doctor Strange 2, Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and helps Doctor Strange protect America Chavez from falling into the hands of Wanda who wants to kill Chavez by stripping her of her powers.
5. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Baron Mordo)
Chiwetel Ejiofor last appeared in the first Doctor Strange film and then appeared in Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati in an alternate reality called Earth-838. In this universe, Doctor Strange used the Darkhold and caused severe damage that required his execution.
After his execution, Mordo was placed in charge of the Sanctum which took Strange’s place. In Doctor Strange 2, he was responsible for capturing Strange and Chavez to be presented to the Illuminati.
6. Rachel McAdams (Dr. Christine Palmer)
Rachel McAdams stars as Doctor Strange’s love interest, Christine Palmer, who is getting married. In this film we see Strange say that he is happy, but we, as the audience, can clearly see that he is not; he’s just pretending. Near the end of Doctor Strange 2, he confesses his feelings to the Christine he met on Earth-838. That scene is also quite symbolic, as you can clearly see that Strange has finally let go of his feelings and is finally at peace with them.
7. Hayley Atwell (Captain Carter)
Marvel fans got to see Captain Carter in action for the first time What if? an animated series based on alternate timelines of the infinite Marvel Universe. The only complaint people had was that they didn’t get to see her in live-action and Marvel pulled a rare W when they decided to bring her to the big screen as part of the Doctor Strange 2 cast.
In this film, when Doctor Strange traveled to Earth-838, instead of the Avengers, the Illuminati were the protectors of Earth, and instead of Captain America, they had Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter. While her screen time wasn’t too much, it was good to see her in live-action.
8. John Krasinski (Reed Richards)
Okay, but what Marvel accomplished here was truly unexpected. They brought to our screens the leader of the Fantastic 4, a team completely unheard of since 2015. Reed Richards has the ability to stretch himself to an incredible degree and is considered the smartest man in the world. For some reason John Krasinski appears as Reed Richards didn’t feel out of place at all, as if we’ve been seeing him play the character for years.
My only complaint here is that Marvel didn’t have to kill him off almost immediately after his appearance. His death means that the upcoming Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four, will recast Reed Richards, or maybe not, simply because this is an alternate timeline, and on Earth-616 he can still be Mr. Richards. Become fantastic. Who knows?
9. Patrick Stewart (Professor Charles Xavier)
If showing our beloved ProfessorJust because someone stumbles and loses their way does not mean they are lost forever.” And when even that wasn’t enough, they had to kill him, not fair Marvel.
Professor Charles Xavier is one of them characters from X-Men that we saw on screen as kids, setting a benchmark in our minds for superhero movies. Professor X’s appearance could hint at the inclusion of mutants in future MCU projects. Anyway, we don’t have to be sad about Professor’s death, since the one on Earth-838 was there, and the one on Earth-616 might still be around.
10. Anson mounting (black bolt)
If we’re talking about the most disrespectful death of any superhero, it has to be Black Bolt from Doctor Strange 2. His superpower was his voice and Wanda literally shut him up. Using her magic, she closed his mouth and then proceeded to crush his skull. Marvel didn’t need to make him so dirty because he was indeed powerful, he was the one who killed Doctor Strange in this universe. I think Black Bolt was very nervous in this movie, what do you think?
11. Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel)
On Earth-838, Lashana Lynch plays Captain Marvel, but in this universe Maria Rambeau, instead of Carol Danvers, is Captain Marvel. I have to say she played the role quite well and was the only one among the entire Illuminati to actually overpower Wanda for a short period of time. However, Wanda was too strong even for a superhero who possessed cosmic powers and eventually overpowered Captain Marvel and killed her as well.
