Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ original storyline featured a very different villain and several major character deaths. A new report reveals how early versions of the film’s script explored alternate plot directions before Marvel made significant changes during development.
Doctor Strange almost fought a different villain in Multiverse of Madness
The original plan for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness featured Nightmare as the main villain, with Wanda Maximoff helping Doctor Strange defeat him.
@MyTimeToShineHello revealed, “The film initially began with Wanda as a hero rather than a villain. The original antagonist was Nightmare, and Wanda was meant to help Doctor Strange track him down and defeat him.” Screenwriter Michael Waldron later changed the concept by making Wanda the antagonist.
Kevin Feige approved the narrative shift and initiated a major overhaul of the plot. The team also considered Chthon as a potential villain. “At one point Chthon was also set to play a significant role in the film, but Feige wanted to save that for later possibly for a Scarlet Witch solo movie.”
The original opening scene featured Mordo from Earth-616 attempting to eliminate Wanda. “She killed him and cut off his head. Presented it to Strange in a later scene,” director Sam Raimi confirmed in the film’s commentary (via Business Insider). The filmmakers removed the scene to improve the film’s pacing.
Elizabeth Olsen previously stated in an interview with The Playlist, “I actually wasn’t a part of the reshoots… I was filming Love and Death. So, what I did is what stayed.” She clarified that the villain arc was decided during the principal shoot: “It was an interesting turn, but one that I was excited to take and and really kind of relish in it instead of tiptoe into it.”
Screenwriter Waldron also shared that Wanda nearly killed the Wasp in an earlier draft. “The Wasp shrunk down and flew at Wanda… and she just clapped her hands and smushed the Wasp.” Though this did not appear in the final version, Wanda’s on-screen rampage included killing Mr. Fantastic, Captain Carter, an alternate Captain Marvel, and Professor X.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now streaming on Disney+.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.net.
