While The Avengers protect the world from numerous impending threats, Doctor Strange serves as the guardian against the more mystical dangers associated with magic. As one of the most significant characters in the Marvel universe, Doctor Strange’s appearance in the upcoming film raises countless questions among fans.
1. What fate awaits Baron Mordo?
Mordo has now become a green-wearing character, full of inner turmoil
In the original source material, the character that initially serves as Doctor Strange’s rival is Baron Mordo. However, the main antagonist in the Doctor Strange film is Kaecilius, portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen. He will play a role similar to that of Baron Mordo in the source material, initially being a student of The Ancient One who turns against his master. Meanwhile, Baron Mordo, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, becomes a close ally of Stephen Strange, taking the place of Wong in the film.
Wong has confirmed he will continue to appear in Infinity War
This character complexity revolves around Wong, played by Benedict Wong, who also appears alongside Doctor Strange and has confirmed his involvement in Infinity War. So, what will become of Baron Mordo? According to the comics, this character becomes disillusioned after realizing the consequences of their actions. Marvel is unlikely to stray too far from the source material, suggesting that Baron Mordo may face significant challenges and unexpected revelations as the story unfolds.
2. Will Dormammu make an appearance?
Dormammu in “Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme”
Based on what fans are speculating and traditional ties to Marvel’s origins, Doctor Strange is expected to feature elements reminiscent of the animated film “Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme” (2007) which explores the origins of this powerful sorcerer. Consequently, the question arises whether Dormammu will appear and serve as the final boss as per the original source material.
Will we “collide” or “encounter” each other?
Dormammu is a being born from a realm of dark energy known as the Dark Dimension, hailing from a race called the Faltine. After being cast out due to the actions of his father, Dormammu and his sister Umar were forced to exist in different dimensions. In the source material, Dormammu empowers Baron Mordo to manipulate The Ancient One and Doctor Strange, seeking to invade Earth.
With Kaecilius’s incredible power, making life difficult for both sorcerers could become a challenge. Hence, the dark energy covering the landscape has led many fans to suspect Dormammu’s influence. With each trailer unveiling new details, it is highly likely Marvel is concealing Dormammu’s role as a surprise for the fans.
3. Will the Illuminati appear?
From the comics
Along with the emergence of Doctor Strange, the Illuminati is one of the most anticipated elements for fans. This secretive group consists of characters with significant influence and intelligence, having engaged directly in critical Marvel events such as Planet Hulk, World War Hulk, and Civil War.
On the big screen
In the comics, the Illuminati chose to exile Hulk into space, preventing his appearance during Civil War and leading to the creation of Planet Hulk. Although the Hulk has made his on-screen debut in Thor: Ragnarok, it remains uncertain who will be the strongest individual capable of influencing decisions. Additionally, even in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the name Stephen Strange was already mentioned, raising speculation regarding his potential connections to previous events in the MCU.
While several prominent figures such as Professor X, Namor, and Reed Richards are absent, Marvel still has Tony Stark, T’Challa, and soon Doctor Strange to create a mini-Illuminati similar to what they did with mini-Civil War not long ago.
4. Will the Multiverse be featured?
The Multiverse creates characters like this “dark” Spider-Man
The Multiverse is a concept in comics where writers can creatively craft alternate realities and explore the deaths of characters without affecting the main storyline. According to various comic book interpretations, the multiverse consists of numerous alternate universes. Each universe has its unique narratives, allowing for characters like Doctor Strange to exist as a sorcerer in one universe while being an ordinary person in another.
The original dimension appeared in “Ant-Man”
In trailers and information released by the filmmakers, they are utilizing the multiverse concept to discuss Doctor Strange. However, this will be a new territory for Marvel, as multiple versions of characters such as Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Thor might appear simultaneously. This will create numerous challenges for MCU filmmakers in the future. Therefore, it’s likely that Doctor Strange will only display dimensions where many beings exist, including Dormammu and other creatures.
5. Will the Infinity Stones appear?
The Infinity Stones currently exist
Marvel fans are speculating whether Doctor Strange will feature the Infinity Stone of Time, which resides within the Eye of Agamotto that Stephen Strange wears. In the source material, the Eye of Agamotto holds various powers, such as seeing through illusions, viewing the past, and even controlling certain beings. In the cinematic version, these powers include the ability to manipulate time, leading to questions about the Time Stone.
The “green” color of the Eye of Agamotto
It’s conceivable that the vibrant green hue of the Eye of Agamotto could signify its powers. However, considering the logic, the Tesseract, which appeared in The Avengers is also an Infinity Stone (Power Stone). If the Time Stone is indeed within Doctor Strange’s Eye of Agamotto, it raises questions about the existence of other Infinity Stones. Did Thanos ever consider trading the Mind Stone to Loki, only to have it embedded into Vision later? The answer may only be revealed when Doctor Strange is released.
6. How will Doctor Strange connect to the MCU?
Who will have a say in this?
One of the most pressing concerns among fans is determining Doctor Strange’s role and connection within the MCU. The timeline of events leading up to the film is still not clearly defined.
Fans can only speculate that the events of the film occur before Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But why does Doctor Strange engage in battles like Inception, allowing others to perceive him? Or does he have a role in Captain America: Civil War? If the timeline occurs later, why was Stephen Strange referenced before his eventual emergence? Another critical question is how Doctor Strange will connect with the divided Avengers after Civil War, with Iron Man and Captain America going their separate ways. Who will Doctor Strange ally with before (indirectly involving any characters) and how will he reconcile the two sides?
Another notable point is that Doctor Strange is the first character in the MCU to wield mystical powers and open up an entirely new dimension. With his immense abilities, how will Marvel balance his role with other superheroes while ensuring he does not overshadow others? This will undoubtedly pose long-term challenges for Marvel as they approach Infinity War.
7. Who will cameo?
This question might seem unrelated, yet it intrigues many fans. Cameos are one of Marvel’s ways of connecting the cinematic universe, like Tony Stark appearing in the after-credits scene of The Incredible Hulk (2008) or Nick Fury in Captain America: The First Avenger.
Has Thanos made a move after 2 years?
With the information that Doctor Strange will have a mid-credit scene and an after-credit scene, fans are left to speculate who will make an appearance. It could be Thanos, Tony Stark, T’Challa, or anyone else… The answer will only be revealed when the film premieres on October 28, 2016.
