“Expand your mind.” This is the intriguingly abstract tagline for Marvel’s forthcoming installment, Doctor Strange. And for good reason. After seeing a sneak peek of the film in 3D, consider my mind expanded … and 100% blown.
Complete with 15 minutes of previously released and never-before-seen footage, the preview walked astral-projected us through Stephen Strange’s (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) literal fall from grace and his anything-but-smooth transition from super surgeon to Sorcerer Supreme. Ultimately, this introduction to mystic arts, metaphysics, and the multiverse doesn’t just “widen the keyhole” of the MCU—it effectively rips the keyhole from its frame, tears the frame from its physical hold on reality, and blasts a hole through the universe’s entire fabric. But don’t worry; we have Cumberbatch’s irresistible charm to lead us through the fractured fray.
Other than Cumberbatch’s perfect casting as the titular magician, we walked away from the exclusive look with five key takeaways:
1. Strange is not Stark 2.0.
Stephen Strange is to the medical field what Tony Stark is to the tech industry: an arrogant, powerful mogul at the top of his game and on top of the world—and that’s before acquiring his world-altering abilities. But the analogy stops there. When asked how the titular doctor differs from Iron Man, director Scott Derrickson stressed the stark (no pun intended) contrast between the characters’ “metamorphoses.” Apparently, Strange’s arrogance will not grow as a result of gaining supernatural powers; instead, “he’ll begin to change, to see what’s right, not just for him, but for everyone around him—for the world. The world becomes his ultimate patient.”
2. Strange’s name drop in Captain America: The Winter Solider was intentional … but not for the reason you think.
Remember that moment in Winter Soldier when Agent Traitor Sitwell is revealing HYDRA’s diabolical plan to rule the world and casually mentions Stephen Strange as a potential threat? No, it wasn’t because Strange had already swapped careers at that point in the MCU’s timeline. Then why did he make the cut? Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige explained:
Well, because we always thought about that program that Alexander Pierce was working on, the scary thing about it was it identified not just current threats but people who could become threats. And so, clearly, that algorithm was so smart that it realized—well, I don’t think it realized [Strange] was going to become a master of mystic arts—but it said here’s an arrogant, independent, acutely smart guy who, if he were to ever cross us—if we couldn’t bring him into the Hydra fold—could still be dangerous.
3. The film takes place after Captain America: Civil War… maybe?
While Strange at least receives a name-drop in Winter Soldier, he makes no appearance—verbal or otherwise—in this year’s follow-up. When asked if Doctor Strange takes place after the team-splitting events of Civil War, Feige responded, “I see no reason why it can’t.” … Talk about mind-bending.
4. This is the darkest MCU installment yet, but not unreasonably so.
With a resume overshadowed by horror films, it makes sense that Derrickson would bring an element of darkness to Doctor Strange. And when asked if he held back at all while developing the film’s mind-bending visuals, he laughed and said, “Who do you think you’re talking to?” Still, he stressed the importance of ensuring that everything onscreen served a purpose: “I know [some of] the stuff is really weird and really creepy, but it’s also thematic. Nothing in there is weird just to be weird; it’s all part of the story.” Well that’s a relief … right?
5. Even with the dark undertones, the film is still a Marvel movie at its heart.
Prepare to LOL, guys. Intermixed between the chilling imagery and the breathtaking action sequences, Cumberbatch and Co. deliver those signature Marvel-zingers we’ve come to know, love, and laugh at. Even Swinton’s Ancient One earns her fair share of crack-ups, making her character more than your stereotypical, straight-laced mentor figure. But, much like Michael Pena in Ant-Man, it’s Benedict Wong’s character who steals the show.
What are you most excited to see in Doctor Strange? Tell us in the comments!
