Doctor Strange and America Chavez's initial trek through the multiverse was almost very different in the final cut of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
According to the movie's visual effects supervisor, Alexis Wajsbrot, changes to the trippy sequence were happening throughout the production. In a recent interview, Wajsbrot told Deadline that it originally "started with previs of a freefall, and at that point the shot was only 15 to 20 seconds long." However, both Wajsbrot and animation supervisor James King decided the scene should "mimic the Magical Mystery Tour." He explained further, stating, "and the world where they stop, you'd see a wide view of the Multiverses. But, you know, what does a Multiverse look like? It's not a lot of Earths because that would be 'multi-Earth.' It's 'Multiverse.' There was also 'where' this all happened."
Wajsbrot continued, "[America and Doctor Strange] were always starting in Kamar-Taj and they were supposed to finish in an alleyway. Of course, in the movie, they finished on the rooftop, but that was a really late addition. That was changed about three months before delivery!" The scene in question shows Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange and Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez traveling through the multiverse, including a cubic universe, a black and white universe, a rainbow paint universe, and more.
Feige's Last-Minute Note
This isn't the only last-minute change made to Multiverse of Madness. In a recent interview, composer Danny Elfman revealed that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made a change "in the very 59th minute of the 11th hour" to the film's "Lethal Symphonies" sequence, which depicted a magical music note battle between two Doctor Stranges. He said, "...[Feige] jumped in and said to just simplify it to Beethoven versus Bach. I did one more pass at it where it was Beethoven’s '5th Symphony' against Bach's 'Toccata and Fugue.' It really worked out perfectly."
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sees the titular sorcerer and America Chavez, a young woman with the ability to traverse the multiverse at will by creating star-shaped portals, travel across multiple dimensions as he attempts to save her from the Scarlet Witch, who seeks to steal America's powers. The Doctor Strange sequel premiered in theaters on May 6, earning $500 million during its first week at the global box office. The movie is now available to stream on Disney+ and will launch on home video on July 26.
Marvel Studios recently released the film's brief gag reel, which features Cumberbatch, who plays the titular Master of the Mystic Arts, showing off his dance moves while decked out in full Zombie Strange makeup. The first seven minutes of Multiverse of Madness are available online as well, which feature the opening battle between Doctor Strange, Wong and the interdimensional monster Gargantos. Moreover, a recently released deleted scene featured Bruce Campbell's Pizza Poppa vowing vengeance against Doctor Strange, teasing the character's MCU return.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now available on Disney+.
Source: Deadline