A new batch of movies and television shows set to join the MCU in 2021 have been announced. And without a doubt, fans can’t wait to see them. No release date has been announced for any of the Disney+ shows. However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, will be released on May 6th. The Doctor Strange sequel will be the franchise’s 28th film.
In the second post-credits scene from Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel gave us a taste of what to expect in the upcoming sequel, which will see the return of Doctor Strange, Wanda Maximoff, and more. A live-action version of the animated What If…? The series will feature a villainous Doctor Strange who tells the MCU’s prime Strange that “things just got out of hand.” This will be part of the action in the upcoming film.
New action figures recently revealed a second variation of the master magician known as “Defender Strange,” who was also glimpsed in the movie’s first trailer for a split second. New packaging confirms the character’s origins and provides additional information.
Benedict Cumberbatch Gets A Ponytail From Defender Strange
The “Defender Strange” character from Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness appeared on the official packaging for a new Marvel Legends figurine. Images of Cumberbatch’s new Kamar-Taj costume show him dressed in a red-and-black ensemble. His outfit appears to be more fortified than his previous Kamar-Taj attire. Cumberbatch rocks a ponytail, two white streaks in his hair, and a slightly altered facial hair design without the goatee.
When Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez appears in the first trailer for Multiverse of Madness, he appears to be falling through a star portal created by Strange. From the trailer, fans can see how long Strange’s ponytail is. This is all thanks to white streaks running all the way through his hair. Strange is described as the planet’s “foremost magical defender” on the packaging as well.
“Doctor Strange is earth’s foremost magical defender, safeguarding our dimension against supernatural threats from across the multiverse.”
An Unusual Hairstyle For An Unusual Variant
A lesson Marvel fans can take away from 2021 is that variations are real. Furthermore, fans should also not forget that the variants will be in full force throughout Phase 4. Maguire and Garfield’s Spider-Man Variants first teased the idea with wild alternate versions of the God of Mischief, such as President Loki and Alligator Loki. Notwithstanding, these two spider-men stole the show in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
In Multiverse of Madness, a third Doctor Strange will appear. It is unclear what Marvel plans to do with him. However, the title and appearance both suggest a connection to an earlier appearance by Dr. Strange in the comics.
It’s no coincidence that the title “Defender” alludes to Strange’s time on the Defenders team. This is where he worked alongside the Hulk and Valkyrie. It’s not yet clear if Marvel will use the sorcerer’s sequel to tell that exact story. Nonetheless, they have a wide range of possibilities thanks to the Multiverse’s central role in the film.
The other two Doctors in the trailer have different hairstyles. For some reason, Cumberbatch rocking a ponytail is likely to help set Strange apart from them. Wanda Maximoff’s looks are already being interpreted in this way by some fans. This is so because this film has the potential to introduce even more Marvel Variants than those who have already appeared on-screen in previous films.
A full cut of Avengers: Infinity War will show a variety of new takes on the MCU’s most familiar faces. In the same cut, the superheroes will be seen battling to keep the multiverse from collapsing.
