In the months leading up to the release of Marvel Studios' latest hit, rumors, theories and reports regarding whether Clea would be part of the "Doctor Strange" cast came and went. As audiences now know, the character, Strange's longtime protégé, on again/off again love interest was not in the movie. However, her participation was considered and, according to screenwriter Jon Spaihts, Clea may yet make her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut.

RELATED: Doctor Strange Concept Art Reveals Mystic Battles, Alternate Designs

"She’s a tricky character to interpret because her uncle is a kind of fire-headed omnipotent god and she’s kind of a hot babe who studies magic," Spaihts told CBR in an interview about his other recent release, "Passengers." "That’s a tricky relationship to bring out of a comic book and on to a movie screen. But she’s a really compelling character as a foil, a love interest, a colleague of Doctor Strange’s, and she always carries with her that width of mystery as to whether she is human, and how human, and what that means for his relationship to her. So we might find a way to introduce her to the story."

Though he's not been contracted to pen the sequel, Spaihts hopes to return for the inevitable follow-up. In fact, he's already bouncing a few ideas around in his head, including one that involves a villain who nearly made it into the original film.

RELATED: The Doctor Strange Movie Originally Had A Different Main Villain

"[Nightmare is] one of the big ones, yes, absolutely!" the writer told CBR. "There’s sort of a zombie apocalypse Shuma-Gorath elder god scenario. There’s a kind of unreliable reality Nightmare movie that could be made. There’s a few great things, and of course Mordo is out there, as embodied by the extraordinary Chiwetel [Ejiofor]. He can come back and bring a world of hurt at any time."

Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” has earned $652.9 million worldwide, slipping past “Iron Man 2,” which ended its theatrical run in 2010 with $623.9 million. The film had already passed the lifetime totals of “The Incredible Hulk” ($263 million), “Captain America: The First Avenger” ($371 million), “Thor” ($449 million), “Ant-Man” ($520 million) and “Iron Man” ($585 million).

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, “Doctor Strange” follows the story of world-renowned surgeon Stephen Strange, whose life changes following a career-ending car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he searches for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He soon learns the people there are at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces determined to destroy reality.