Sam Raimi Discusses DOCTOR STRANGE 2 and Addresses Kevin Feige's EVIL DEAD II Comment

A few weeks ago, Kevin Feige made a comment about Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness, saying that the film will make “Evil Dead II fans very happy." It was also confirmed that the reason Raimi was brought on to direct the film was because Marvel wanted him to bring his signature style to the movie. Feige said:

“We want it to be a Sam Raimi movie. We would give notes like, ‘This action is cool – you’re competing with Avengers and Spider-Man, no problem – but don’t forget the Sam Raimi parts.’ You will see just how Sam Raimi it is, in ways that will make fans of Evil Dead II very happy.”

That comment got a lot of fans excited about what Raimi is going to bring to this movie! In a recent interview with Fandango, Raimi addressed Feige’s comments above and talked about the “flavor of horror” that the movie has. The filmmaker said:

"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."

Raimi is really trying to manage expectations here, but I like what he’s saying, especially his comment that the movie will titillate the audience’s fear. We’ve got a little taste of the creepy horror that this film has to offer in the trailers that have been released, but I can’t wait to see how this full story plays out! This is going to be one hell of a wild ride as Strange finds himself on an adventure through the multiverse.

Benedict Cumberbatch is back as Doctor Strange, and he’s joined by Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch. The movie also stars Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rachel McAdams, who will be back as Wong, Karl Mordo, and Christine Palmer, respectively. Xochitl Gomez has also joined the cast 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. 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.

Now that Iron Man and Captain America have left after a fierce battle in Avengers: Endgame, former genius surgeon and the strongest magician of them all, Doctor Strange, is expected to play an active role as a central figure in the Avengers. However, using his magic to manipulate time and space at will with a forbidden spell that is considered the most dangerous has opened the door to a mysterious madness called ‘the Multiverse.’ To restore a world where everything is changing, Strange seeks help from his ally Wong (Benedict Wong), the Sorcerer Supreme, and the Avengers’ most powerful Scarlet Witch, Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen). But a terrible threat looms over humanity and the entire universe that no longer can be done by their power alone. Even more surprising, the greatest threat in the universe looks exactly like Doctor Strange…

 "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" hits theaters on May 6, 2022.