The social media embargo has been lifted, and the first reactions to the highly anticipated MCU outing, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have arrived. Due for release later this week, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises to open up the MCU to the multiverse like never before, with The Master of the Mystic Arts’ latest adventure resulting in Marvel’s first horror movie. Well, somewhat surprisingly, it sounds like the Doctor Strange sequel has seriously succeeded in that regard.

After original director Scott Derrickson departed the project, Marvel turned to Evil Dead and Spider-Man 2 director Sam Raimi to continue the adventure of Doctor Strange. While many had feared that the filmmaker’s unique vision would be churned up and spat out by the MCU movie-making machine, it sounds instead like Raimi managed to maintain his stamp on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Alongside director Sam Raimi, much of the early praise has been aimed directly at Elizabeth Olsen, who reprises the role of Wanda Maximoff AKA The Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. And who many have long-suspected will be the villain of the piece.

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will fully unleash the multiverse on the MCU. Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sees the Master of the Mystic Arts team-up with both old and new mystical allies, traveling into the multiverse to face a mysterious new adversary.

Not Everyone Was Charmed by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Alternate Doctor Strange Multiverse of Madness
Marvel Studios

Not everyone was as enamored with the delights that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has to offer. While the praise for the talents of Sam Raimi remains consistent, some early reactions take issue with the story and the generally unsatisfying journey that the MCU sequel took them on.

Despite these misgivings, it at least sounds like the Marvel movie has achieved its aim of being the franchise's first straight-up horror outing. Many of the reactions so far have highlighted the sequel’s brutal violence, genuine scares, and an assortment of other darker elements, all of which suggest that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be bringing something a little different to the MCU.

Delivering on the madness that the title promises, as well as the surprises that have been teased for some time, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness should at least provide audiences with the mad-cap MCU escapade that they have been hoping for.

Directed by Sam Raimi and written by Michael Waldron, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda AKA The Scarlet Witch, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo, Benedict Wong as Wong, Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, and Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer alongside Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular Doctor Strange.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premiered in Hollywood on May 2, 2022, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 6, as part of Phase Four of the MCU.