Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently in talks with Sam Raimi to direct the superhero sequel film.
Long before Disney’s MCU or Warner Bros’ DCEU, there was Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man trilogy.
The trilogy, which began with 2002’s Spider-Man, is often seen as the start of the modern comic book movie era. And though there have been three other individuals (we include here 2018’s tremendous Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) to call themselves Spider-Man since that 2002 debut, Raimi’s 2004 sequel Spider-Man 2 is still considered by many to be not only one of the best — if not the best — Spider-Man movies, but one of the best comic book movies of all time.
While the final film in that trilogy didn’t achieve the same heights as the first two, Sam Raimi still stands tall in the pantheon of comic book movie directors. Since that 2007 feature, Raimi has been quiet in terms of directing, having directed only two films — horror flick Drag Me to Hell in 2009 and Disney’s The Wizard of Oz prequel Oz the Great and Powerful in 2013.
However, it looks like the MCU would like to change that
Variety has reported that Sam Raimi is currently engaged in talks with the MCU to direct the Doctor Strange sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Raimi would be replacing original Doctor Strange 2 director Scott Derrickson, who likewise directed the first film, but who officially left the project due to creative differences.
Sam Raimi comes to the MCU fold with 15 films to his name, including two major franchises and a $200 million budget film for Disney. This makes him the most established filmmaker to potentially join Marvel Studios since Kenneth Branagh and Joe Johnston directed the original Thor and Captain America, respectively.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will see the return of Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular Sorcerer Supreme, Benedict Wong as Wong, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as fellow-sorcerer-turned-nemisis Karl Mordo. Rachel McAdams, however, will not return as Christine Palmer.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be released in theaters on May 7, 2021.