Previously unseen Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness concept art just dropped, debuting the first full look at the Stephen Strange of Earth-838.
The uncredited artwork first surfaced on the r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers subreddit. It showcases several key details of the Earth-838 Strange's costume not prominently featured in the film itself, including his dark blue Cloak of Levitation and armored gauntlets. The Earth-838 Doctor Strange variant appears only briefly in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, during a flashback sequence in which he's ultimately executed by his Illuminati teammates. Like the other Strange variants in the movie, the Earth-838 Doctor Strange is portrayed by star Benedict Cumberbatch.
These other variants include the Doctor Strange of Earth-617 (also known as "Defender Strange") and the corrupted Doctor Strange (dubbed "Sinister Strange") from an undesignated, destroyed reality. Cumberbatch nearly played even more incarnations of the Master of the Mystic Arts in the film, concept artwork by artist Thomas du Crest has since revealed. These production illustrations depict an "Incursion Universe," within which exists a desert filled with the dead bodies of hundreds of Doctor Strange variants. It's unclear whether the "Incursion Universe" was conceived as part of original director Scott Derrickson's vision for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, or if it was developed after Sam Raimi assumed control of the project.
Gory Zombie Strange Concept Art Arrives Online
This isn't the first variant Doctor Strange concept art du Crest has shared online, either. The artist previously posted several of his early designs for Zombie Strange, the reanimated corpse of the Earth-617 Doctor Strange. Many of these designs were markedly gorier than the version of Zombie Strange that appeared in the finished film. This presumably reflects Raimi's apparent commitment to keeping the character's aesthetic from ever becoming too gruesome, as VFX supervisor Erik Winquist previously recalled the director toning down aspects of the Zombie Strange sequence during post-production.
Zombie Strange wasn't the only aspect of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse to get overhauled relatively late in the game. At least one major supporting character, Balder the Brave, was cut during principal photography, as confirmed by a behind-the-scenes set photo. The photo, taken by stunt double CC Ice, shows an unidentified performer dressed as Balder sprawled on the floor of the Illuminate's headquarters, apparently the victim of Scarlet Witch's (Elizabeth Olsen) rampage midway through the movie.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now streaming on Disney+.
Source: Reddit