The MCU Cut A Dimension In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's massive multiverse makes it seem limitless, but Hollywood says otherwise, as Sam Raimi revealed that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness once included a fourth dimension that was ultimately cut.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows three primary universes: Earth-616 (the main Marvel timeline), Earth-838 (home of the Illuminati), and a reality where the titular character confronts a Darkhold-corrupted variant of himself. However, according to Raimi, who directed the film, there was one more universe developed during production that never made it to the screen.

In an interview with The Playlist for Send Help, Raimi explained that there was originally another universe with a brand-new backstory for Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams). Apparently, they also already shot an entire fight scene in that universe. The director said that McAdams' character was attacked by demons from the netherworld and fought them off on her own. Unfortunately, that scene, along with its dimension, was left on the cutting room floor.

Raimi also mentioned how impressed he was with the actor's performance. He was concerned that the scene might come across as too ridiculous and comedic. However, McAdams pulled it off flawlessly, and he was shocked that she managed to take something that sounded silly on paper and turn it into something incredible. The director also praised her professionalism throughout the process and how seriously she took his vision.

In the reshoot, I added a little bit of cheesy fights, which I like to do. So, I had to say to her on set, ‘This is where the demons from the netherworld have come out. And they punch you in the jaw.’ And I’m thinking, she’s thinking, ‘That sounds lame.’ I say, ‘And then I see you fall back into this chaise lounge. And then a demon jumps upon you. And you catch it with your legs like a flying trapeze for a moment. And you launch it off!’

This nuanced actor just played this beautiful violin concert for me. And in three different keys, she played it in C in one range. And then she jumped an octave and played the perfect C in the next octave. And then she somehow got to that third C in a perfect reverberating harmony. But then she took this lame direction, and she looked at me for a moment and said, ‘What angle do you want me to approach the couch and at what speed after the ghost hits me?’ It’s like, ‘Oh man, she’s so willing not to think ‘That’s silly,’ but instead, ‘How can I make this great?’ She’s a pro. She took the material and made it sing.

I thought, ‘She’s not saying it’s lame. She’s going to make it great.’ Her attitude was ‘make it real and great.’ She made an exciting little action scene out of it that was really as believable as you can when you’re fighting ghosts and demons, which is my hobby, by the way [laughs]. When I saw her do that, I thought, ‘I need to work with this actress again.’ She brings so much to creating character, driving the story and the plot, so aware of the audience’s intelligence and playing up to it.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) is the second MCU movie about the titular sorcerer. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange and features Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Karl Mordo), Benedict Wong (Wong), Xochitl Gomez (America Chavez), and Michael Stuhlbarg (Nicodemus West) alongside McAdams.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is available to stream on Disney+.