Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness catapults into theaters this week, bringing to life the twenty-eighth film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As its title alludes, Multiverse of Madness will not only advance the story of Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his compatriots, but will serve as a unique flashpoint for the MCU, cracking open its live-action multiverse and showcasing other realms where stories can be told. In the process, it will also serve as the first superhero film in over fifteen years for director Sam Raimi, who stepped in to helm Multiverse of Madness following the departure of Scott Derrickson in early 2020. Raimi’s work on Multiverse of Madness has already felt significant on multiple levels — not only because the film’s premise could lend itself perfectly to Raimi’s beloved horror-tinged directing style, but because the film could further highlight the instrumental and genre-defining work he did on Sony’s original Spider-Man film trilogy.
