Loki Foreshadowed Doctor Strange’s Role in Infinity War

Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) important role in Avengers: Infinity War was foreshadowed by Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Marvel Studios worked very hard to make sure that the events of their 2018 culminating film didn’t get spoiled, especially since it ended in arguably one of the biggest twists in modern cinema. Looking back at the Infinity Saga, however, the God of Mischief provided a clue as to how pivotal Stephen Strange would be in the movie.

As the keeper of the Eye of Agamotto/Time Stone, Doctor Strange was automatically a target for Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his minions in Infinity War. Initially, he insisted on holding onto the Infinity Stone despite suggestions from Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to get rid of it in order to keep the Mad Titan from collecting all elemental crystals. Later on in the film, however, Doctor Strange surprisingly gave up the Time Stone in Titan to save Iron Man’s life. While there was still the Mind Stone to collect at this point, Thanos’s acquisition of the green gem was the clincher to his success as it proved useful in getting the final crystal after Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) destroyed it.

The change in Doctor Strange’s demeanor started after he peeked through time, looking into the future to see if there’s any way they can come out successful against Thanos where he did learn that there’s only one scenario out of more than 14 million where they emerge victoriously. While he didn’t get the chance to share the specifics of how this can be achieved, he sneakily set things in motion; at that point, he knew that in order to win, they first needed to lose badly. Admittedly, no one expected Doctor Strange to be this pivotal in the narrative considering that he’s a fairly new hero, but looking back at Thor: Ragnarok, Loki actually foreshadowed the sorcerer’s importance in Infinity War. 

After he got busted for posing as Odin (Anthony Hopkins) in Asgard, Loki accompanied Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to Earth to pick up the real AllFather who was left in a care home in New York. Unfortunately, by the time they got there, the establishment was already being demolished, leaving them clueless as to where the real Odin was. Thor chastised his brother for choosing to leave their father at the non-operating nursing home; Loki retorted: “how was I supposed to know, can’t see into the future, I’m not a witch.” As seen in Infinity War, witches or wizards like Doctor Strange are indeed able to peek through time and see what lies ahead. That’s what allowed the future Sorcerer Supreme to quietly lay the foundation for the time heist and everything else that happened in Avengers: Endgame, including Stark’s sacrificial death. Interestingly, not long after the trickster made that comment, he was sucked into Doctor Strange’s portal as the quasi-villain Loki was deemed a massive threat on Earth. Chances are that Loki knew about this particular capability of witches/wizards through his mother, Frigga (Rene Russo), who was raised by magic-wielders.

While Doctor Strange and the God of Mischief barely had any interaction in the Infinity Saga, their paths will more likely cross again in MCU Phase 4 as reports have confirmed that Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Loki are connected. It’s worth noting, however, that since the original Loki died at the start of Avengers: Infinity War, the one that the sorcerer could encounter moving forward is the non-redeemed version of the trickster.