Pictured: A new image from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness featuring Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Benedict Wong (Wong) and Xochitl Gomez (America Chavez)

 

Tickets for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are now on sale here at Fandango. The movie opens in theaters on May 6. Find your tickets right here. 

Sam Raimi is a special kind of filmmaker. On one hand, he’s the nicest, warmest human being to have a conversation with, but he also holds the rare distinction of having mastered both the superhero movie and the horror movie. One might argue that Raimi is the godfather of the modern superhero blockbuster, having helmed the first three Spider-Man films starring Tobey Maguire. The comic book movie might not be what it is today without Raimi’s efforts to reinvent the genre in the early 2000s. On the flipside, his horror films like The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness are huge fan favorites among horror aficionados. The man is a legend among genre filmmakers, and when it came time for Marvel Studios to infuse its massive Doctor Strange sequel with elements of horror, it made all the sense in the world to recruit such a confident and accomplished filmmaker like Mr. Sam Raimi.

To celebrate tickets going on sale for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (only in theaters May 6), Fandango spoke to the legendary director. In regards to horror, Raimi told us, “Doctor Strange in the comics has always dealt in universes and dimensions that were quite spooky, so we tried to bring some of that into this film. It is spooky at some times and scary at others,” he added. “It's unknown what you'll find in the multiverse. It's within that unknown that suspense and darkness exists. A tool to titillate the audience's fear.”

If Spider-Man: No Way Home was the first MCU film to bring characters from the multiverse into our universe, then Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be the first MCU film to send characters from our universe into the multiverse. It is a sequel to the 2016 hit starring Benedict Cumberbatch, but it may also be one of the biggest and most important films Marvel Studios has ever released in theaters – mainly because it will be the first to truly crack open multiverse storytelling on the big screen, while officially ushering in the next era of comic book movies. It’s as if Sam Raimi’s entire career has been building to this moment and the chance to once again reshape the way we experience comic book movies moving forward.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness picks up roughly a few months after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it will pit familiar Marvel characters like Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Wong (Benedict Wong) against their greatest enemy yet… altered versions of themselves. Wait… what? Ahead, Raimi teases the film’s complex, multi-genre approach, as well as the many surprises that await fans. Also, what to expect from the new Marvel character in the film, America Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez), and… well, we couldn’t help but talk a little bit about Spider-Man, too. Check out the full Q&A below.

 

Fandango: My first question comes with a short story. A couple of weeks ago, I sat with Elizabeth Olsen and her husband at the Critics Choice Awards. I told Lizzie that I’d be speaking to you, and I asked her for a good question that I could kick off our conversation with. She said, "Ask him how familiar he was with 'the new Marvel' when he was approached for this film." The new Marvel meaning the Marvel Cinematic Universe, everything from Iron Man on. So that’s my first question to you, by way of Lizzie Olsen.

Sam Raimi: Well, since you got to give a short story, I'm going to give a two-part answer. 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. 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.

 

Fandango: Speaking of Lizzie Olsen, how would you say Wanda evolves as a character in this film? Will we see a more powerful Wanda? Will we see multiple versions of the character?

Sam Raimi: Yes. The movie is a journey into the multiverse, so you do see different iterations of Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange, and even Lizzie Olsen's character of Wanda Maximoff. So, the actors have to play that. It's a great challenge for them and great fun to direct them playing these altered versions of themselves.

Fandango: Who would you say is more powerful in this film, Doctor Strange or Wanda?

Sam Raimi: Wow. That's a question I've been asking kids on the playground since third grade. Who is stronger, this character or that character? Well, I think Wanda's magic, from Marvel lore, is more powerful than almost any of the other characters in this picture, but Doctor Strange has the knowledge of the mystic arts that Wanda doesn't have, and he's got the help of Kamar-Taj. If you were to pit them against each other, different altered versions of themselves ... there could be a Doctor Strange out there that's more powerful than our Wanda. Or there could be a Wanda out there who is more powerful than our Wanda here. So, because of these altered versions, it's all a mixed bag of possibilities.

 

Fandango: Benedict Cumberbatch has said that this film will rival Spider-Man: No Way Home, in terms of all its surprises. What can you tease fans when it comes to the number of surprises or cameos that are in this film?

Sam Raimi: I guess I would say that ... Spider-Man [No Way Home] broke open [the idea that] characters from the multiverse could visit our universe. But this is the first time that characters from our universe will go out into the multiverse and experience other universes. So, it's going to be a continuation, but that, I think, is one of the biggest appeals. Finding other realities, and how they rhyme with our own, or how they are completely the opposite, or variations thereof. I think therein lies the interest of this picture.

Fandango: One moment in the trailer that fans were very excited about was the appearance of what appeared to be Patrick Stewart's Xavier on this council, perhaps a reference to Marvel's Illuminati. What can you tell us about this council and how they factor into the film?

Sam Raimi: I couldn't promise you that Patrick Stewart's in the picture. That's all that Marvel will let me say.

 

Fandango: I guess I can't ask you my follow-up question then, which was what was it like to bring Stewart's iconic character into the MCU for the first time?

Sam Raimi: Oh yeah. Well, I got to work, at least, with Benedict Cumberbatch. I thought he was an iconic character now after so many Marvel movies. Lizzie too, I'd say. And Benedict Wong I'd put in that status.

Fandango: We do get to meet America Chavez in this film (played by Xochitl Gomez), which is exciting. It appears that she and Doctor Strange go on an adventure together. How would you describe their relationship in this film, and what does a character like Chavez add to this story?

Sam Raimi: Well, she adds an exciting spirit of youth. She's a newcomer to her powers and to our world. She actually comes from another universe. I think she brings a sense of lightness and youth. Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange can be a very egotistical and stuffy character, a know-it-all. She just flies in the face of that. She doesn't really have respect for him originally. She sees right through the fronts that he puts up. She's much more down to earth and one of us, and she doesn't take his attitude. I don't think he likes that at first. So, she creates a contrast.

 

Fandango: Kevin Feige has teased that fans of Evil Dead II will be very happy when they watch this film. What does he mean by that? Please tell us that someone is getting a chainsaw arm in this film, Sam!

Sam Raimi: [laughs] That's the one thing I can tell you that does not happen! I think what [Kevin] meant, from my point of view, is that this film has a flavor of horror to it. I think when the original director, Scott Derrickson, and Kevin promoted the coming of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, they said that it was going to be the first Marvel superhero film that had an element of horror to it. I hope I'm not misquoting them. But even after Scott left the picture due to creative differences, that was still the mandate -- to make the first Marvel film that had an element of horror. So, I kept true to their original statements.

I think that's what Kevin means, because it is spooky at some times and scary at others. It's unknown what you'll find in the multiverse. It's within that unknown that suspense and darkness exists. A tool to titillate the audience's fear. Plus, Doctor Strange in the comics has always dealt in universes and dimensions that were quite spooky, so we tried to bring some of that into this film.

Pictured: A still from Sam Raimi's Evil Dead II (1987)

Fandango: I can’t reference Evil Dead II without also asking if your friend Bruce Campbell shows up in the multiverse somewhere...

Sam Raimi: I can't answer that question either. I'm not allowed to.

 

Fandango: Speaking of the darker side of this film, though, who would you consider to be the villain of Multiverse of Madness? Is it Wanda? Is it Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor)? Is it Strange himself? Is it the multiverse? Is it all of the above?

Sam Raimi: Well, there's iterations of our characters throughout the multiverse. So, if I were to say Strange ... I'm not really supposed to answer this question, but I might be saying altered Strange. Same with Wanda and Mordo. But I would say, at different times, all of the above.

 

Fandango: Sam, you've made great horror movies. You've made great superhero movies. Was there something you got to do on this film that you've always wanted to do in either a horror movie or a superhero movie, but you never had the chance until now?

Sam Raimi: To combine elements of both. That was a lot of fun.

 

Fandango: Since we do get to see multiple versions of Doctor Strange in this film, was there a version that was your favorite to play with?

Sam Raimi: No. I don't have a favorite. I really like them interacting with each other very much. I think that was the most interesting thing -- to see Benedict Cumberbatch bring out a part of his personality that was slightly unique to create one of his altered selves. Or to watch Lizzie maybe bring a darker part of herself out to create an altered version of herself. The slightest tweaks they could come up with made it very interesting for me.

 

Fandango: As we wrap up… you know, Tobey Maguire is back in that Spider-Man suit and it looks good on him. What are the chances that we see you two team back up for more Spider-Man movies... or has that ship sailed?

Sam Raimi: I've come to realize after making Doctor Strange that anything is possible, really anything in the Marvel universe, any team-ups. I love Tobey. I love Kirsten Dunst. I think all things are possible. I don't really have a story or a plan. I don't know if Marvel would be interested in that right now. I don't know what their thoughts are about that. I haven't really pursued that. But it sounds beautiful. Even if it wasn't a Spider-Man movie, I'd love to work with Tobey again, in a different role.

Fandango: This was your first experience with the MCU. If they asked you to return and continue to play in this world for a little while, is that something that you'd be interested in?

Sam Raimi: Absolutely. It's like the world's best toy box to be able to play at Marvel. I'd love to come back and tell another tale, especially with the great management they've got there.

 

Fandango: Sam, thank you so much for this conversation. I'm a big fan of yours, personally. As someone who grew up with your Spider-Man movies, I can't wait to see what you bring to the MCU. Wishing you the best of luck!

Sam Raimi: Thank you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate the kind words, and thanks for a nice interview.

 

In addition to this interview, check out the film's brand new IMAX poster below.

Click on the poster to enlarge

 

 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters on May 6, and you can find your tickets right here at Fandango.