Doctor Strange 2’s What If…? Connection Explained By Producer

Producer Richie Palmer explains Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness connection with What If…? and their goal for translating the story. The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe series continues the narrative put forth in WandaVision, Loki season 1 and Spider-Man: No Way Home as the titular sorcerer grapples with the consequences of bursting the doors open to the multiverse. In order to fix his mistakes and save reality, Strange must venture through the multiverse with his allies to face a mysterious new adversary, during which he will meet variants of himself and his companions.

What If…? marked the MCU’s first foray into animation and was based on the comic book line of the same name in which alternate realities were explored regarding major moments from MCU films, including Peggy Carter becoming the first superhuman, T’Challa becoming the Star-Lord and a zombie epidemic wiping out the world. Though featuring different versions of the characters, a majority of MCU stars reprised their roles for the series, including Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange and his evil variant. Trailers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have pointed towards What If…?‘s villainous sorcerer appearing in some capacity and now one of the creatives behind the film is offering some insight of what’s to come.

As part of the latest issue of D23 Magazine (via The Direct), Marvel’s Richie Palmer opened up about the highly anticipated Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In reflecting on the film’s apparent connection to What If…?, the producer explained how the filmmakers sought to do “justice” for the episode’s story on the big screen. See what Palmer shared below:

“Things get pretty trippy. We love that episode of What If…?, and we hope to do it justice. It shows another version of Doctor Strange – one who let the universe he lived in be destroyed because of his love for Christine. If he was capable of that, for a selfish reason, is that something that our Stephen would be capable of doing, too? We’d like to think, ‘No, our guy’s the hero,’ but you never know.”

The first Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer, originally attached to Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s post-credits, memorably ended with Cumberbatch’s titular hero being confronted by what appeared to be Doctor Strange Supreme from What If…?. The character first debuted in episode four of the animated series as Strange seeks to reverse time to save Christine Palmer from the car accident that would take his hands, spending centuries to absorb magical beings in an effort to break the irreversible absolute point in time. Strange Supreme’s efforts would prove to be for nought as he would absorb a better version of himself and end up horrifying Christine as the universe unravels around them, though would later redeem himself by successfully defeating Ultron with the Guardians of the Multiverse.

Palmer’s explanation for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ connection with What If…? seems to point towards the evil Strange seen in marketing for the film to be a different variant of the character rather than the one seen in the animated series as they tried to do it justice. However, with the character seen in a realm outside of normal reality akin to where Strange Supreme was last seen watching over a pocket dimension containing Killmonger and Ultron Arnim Zola, the show confirmed to take place in the MCU and Captain Carter seemingly confirmed in the film’s poster, the possibility is still there. While audiences await answers in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on May 6, they can catch up with the entirety of What If…? season 1 streaming on Disney+ now.