Sam Raimi already has a Marvel pedigree when it comes to the big screen -- he directed the hit Spider-Man trilogy from 2002 to 2007 -- but that doesn't mean he's seen all the Marvel Cinematic Universe films that came after in preparation for making Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

In an interview with Fandango, the director gave in an in-depth response that he's seen a shockingly small number of them. "I'm going to give a two-part answer," Raimi began. "I had seen Iron Man, the first Avengers, Black Panther and Doctor Strange, and little clips of the other movies. They've made 28 movies. I've only really seen four or five, so I'll say not that familiar. That's part one. By the way, I loved what I saw, but not that familiar."

RELATED: Doctor Strange 2's Horror Elements Weren't Impacted by the Director Change

He then continued, "But part two is I was a giant fan of the Marvel comic books of the '70s and '80s and into the '90s. So, I was super familiar with the characters, and their stories, and their interactions. That's what the Marvel movies are based on. So that's my answer." The question was prompted by none other than Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. She told Raimi's interviewer, "Ask him how familiar he was with 'the new Marvel' when he was approached for this film."

The official number of released films in the MCU currently stands at 27, from 2008's Iron Man to 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, so Raimi is clearly including his own film in his count of 28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be the fifth film released in Phase Four of the MCU, which also includes over a dozen streaming series and specials on Disney+ like Loki and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

RELATED: 10 Strongest Doctor Strange Villains, Ranked

He's also well-versed in not only bringing actual comic book characters to the screen like Spider-Man but in establishing new ones, as he did in the 1990 film Darkman starring Liam Neeson. Raimi wrote the short story Darkman is based on as an homage to classic horror movie monsters, featuring a scientist who develops superhuman abilities after his treatment to cure his own severe burn injuries fails. Even his non-superhero flicks, such as the horror film The Evil Dead, the revisionist Western The Quick and the Dead and his supernatural thriller The Gift, are known for their dynamic and kinetic visual style inspired by comic books.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marks Raimi's return to comic book films after a 15-year hiatus bookended by Spider-Man 3 in 2007. Benedict Cumberbatch returns to the titular role of Dr. Stephen Strange as he enters the multiverse opened in No Way Home and enlists the help of Wanda, the Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong), and a new face in America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) among many other rumored and known co-stars and cameos, including the Illuminati.

After multiple reshoots, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premieres May 6 in theaters.

Source: Fandango