Super Bowl Sunday was not only an important night for football fans, but also for avid Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts who were treated with the official trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With callbacks and cameos aplenty, Marvel fans were given a chaotic look at the extensive cast of the film, but one unusual appearance may have left viewers slightly confused and asking themselves two questions -- who is the bright green minotaur, and what is his role in the upcoming movie?
For those who are unfamiliar with some of the more niche Marvel lore, this extraterrestrial ally -- dubbed Rintrah -- has been Doctor Strange's faithful friend in the comics for quite some time. Though the hulking minotaur hasn't appeared in the MCU thus far, his comic counterpart has been taking part in mystical adventures with the Sorcerer Supreme since 1986.
Originally from the alien planet R'Vaal, Rintrah started as a humble cloth weaver and eventually became Doctor Strange's apprentice, even living in the Sanctum Sanctorum after befriending the sorcerers. Rintrah initially met Strange after he was sent by fellow magic-user Enitharmon the Weaver to return Strange's Cloak of Levitation; afterward, he had a fascination with Strange's way of life, returning sometime later to become his student.
From then on, Rintrah served as both a friend and a bodyguard for Strange, helping defend him from physical threats, learning the mystic arts and even knocking out a possessed Hulk to protect his friends. Armed with immense strength, powerful magic and genius-level intellect, it's certainly a relief Rintrah chooses to aid the heroes, as it would be quite the headache for Strange and his fellow crimefighters if Rintrah was their enemy.
Fans had already guessed Rintrah would be in the long-awaited sequel, given the fact that various merchandising and leaked figurines had pointed to his onscreen debut. And after an official Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness poster showed an unmistakable green minotaur, it was no longer a question that Rintrah would be joining the ever-growing roster of heroes in the MCU.
Though it's unclear so far if Rintrah's appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be an extended stay or a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo, the fact that the green-furred minotaur is confirmed to be in the upcoming sequel points to interesting possibilities regarding the usage of niche characters in future MCU projects. If a character as outlandish as a monstrous minotaur can find a place onscreen with some of Hollywood's biggest stars, there's no telling the directions Marvel Studios could go.
With the MCU gaining Avengers: Endgame-levels of anticipation as it breaks into multiversal territory, it would make sense that more obscure characters from distant planets and universes would start to show up. And with Rintrah and Strange's longstanding friendship in the comics, his introduction into the MCU will hopefully bring some much-needed companionship into Strange's life. Although promotional content for the Multiverse of Madness is already showcasing a darker side of the MCU, fans can hope there will still be plenty of strong character relationships that capture the spirit of their comic predecessors.
To see how Rintrah factors into the story, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters on May 6.