Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is still mending a broken heart heading into Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
In the spring 2022 issue of Disney's D23 Magazine, Multiverse of Madness producer Richie Palmer confirmed that Strange and Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) are not back together heading into the Doctor Strange sequel. However, while Strange opted to leave his relationship with Christine behind in order to prioritize his responsibilities as a superhero, he still hasn't exactly gotten over her.
"They are not back together, unfortunately... as we saw at the end of Doctor Strange, he chose to stay in the Sanctum, meaning he can't entertain his selfish desires," the producer explained. "He would've loved to stay with Christine at the end of that movie, but he did the hard thing. He said, 'No. I'm going to be a Super Hero and defend our reality. I have to move on.' Our movie shows him dealing with the decisions he's made. He might regret how things ended with Christine; he still carries a torch for her."
Like Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange, McAdams' Christine Palmer made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in 2016's Doctor Strange. However, whereas Cumberbatch subsequently portrayed Strange in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home, the upcoming Multiverse of Madness marks McAdams' first live-action appearance as Christine since her debut more than five years ago. That being said, McAdams did voice the character in an episode of Marvel Studios' Disney+ animated series What If...? in 2021.
Cumberbatch and McAdams aren't the only Doctor Strange alums reprising their roles for Multiverse of Madness, with the Sam Raimi-directed sequel also slated to feature the return of Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo, Benedict Wong as Wong and Michael Stuhlbarg as Nicodemus West. Meanwhile, MCU mainstay Elizabeth Olsen reprises her role as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, while franchise newcomer Xochitl Gomez makes her debut as America Chavez.
"In Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before," an official synopsis for the film reads. "Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary."
See what the future holds for Stephen and Christine in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in theaters May 6.
Source: D23 Magazine, via The Direct