Doctor Strange In the Multiverse Of Madness had long been teased as the film that would journey into the darker side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even before the first trailer was released, there were reports that it would delve more into the horror genre, which has seldom been explored in previous entries of the franchise. While it is unclear just how deeply the movie will enter this territory, especially with more recent reports downplaying that notion, the trailers and promotional material have more or less confirmed that there will be horror elements sprinkled throughout the film.
This may seem like an unprecedented change in the status quo for the average moviegoer, and for the MCU, it pretty much is. However, for many Doctor Strange fans, the concept of a horror-based story is not all that unusual for the character. In fact, a tonal shift into the macabre brings longtime Illuminati member Doctor Strange closer to his roots. For those unfamiliar with his comic book counterpart, the character actually owes a lot to the horror genre. From Strange's roster of villains being made up of mostly eldritch beings, such as Nightmare and Shuma-Gorath, to his many adventures through the surreal landscapes of the different dimensions, it is clear that Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and the many writers and artists that came after were drawing inspiration from the horror films and stories of their time. It should come as no surprise, then, that even Strange's likeness in the comics was meant to evoke imagery of one particularly noteworthy horror actor.
According to Grunge.com, Vincent Price, the legendary actor known for his long list of horror films, was one of the inspirations for the Sorcerer Supreme. The character's look and appearance may have been an homage to one of Price’s recent performances at the time. In the 1963 horror-comedy film The Raven, directed by Roger Corman, Price had taken on the role of Dr. Erasmus Craven, a sorcerer who learns that his late wife might still be alive and held captive in an evil sorcerer's castle.
The film had come out only a few months before the arrival of Doctor Strange, and the similarities in appearance between the two are pretty striking. Even the moniker of "Doctor" seems like it could be a deliberate nod to The Raven.
Vincent Price's likeness was also not the only thing Lee and Ditko borrowed, either. As a matter of fact, the character's middle name, which is "Vincent," is a direct reference to the prolific actor. This connection to the horror legend makes the character's roots in the genre even more evident. Because of this, it is only fitting that Doctor Strange 2 will be exploring the horror genre.
To see if Benedict Cumberbatch evokes Vincent Price, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters May 6.