Disney+’s Loki introduced the concept of the multiverse to the MCU — the idea that multiple worlds with their own unique realities exist alongside the continuity of the original Earth, the one that most of the Marvel properties have been based on. With it came the existence of variants, alternate versions of beloved characters that originate from those different worlds. The concept was developed further by Marvel’s What If…?, which remade some classic MCU origin stories with unique twists, where each episode takes place in one of the alternate worlds. Besides Loki, the other character set up to be at the center of multiverse chaos is Doctor Strange, star of the upcoming film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Doctor Strange’s role in 2021s Spider-Man: No Way Home furthered the narrative of the multiverse that is becoming part of many of the MCU’s movies and television shows. In the upcoming Doctor Strange film, the titular character will face threats from other worlds including other versions of the master of the mystic arts himself. Rumors are abound all over the internet, teasing appearances from alternate versions of countless beloved characters. Some of these have been established in previous entries in the MCU and there are likely still others that haven’t been shown in the promotional material as yet. For now, here's every Doctor Strange variant, explained.

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Doctor Strange

Benedict Cumberbatch in and as Dr. Stephen Strange
Marvel Studios

This is the version of the popular character that viewers are already familiar with, having starred in his own movie and made appearances in several others. It seems that Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness will probably be presented from this Strange’s perspective. After the events of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home, this version of Doctor Strange has to contend with the consequences of his actions that have blurred the barriers between worlds. The trailers promise an encounter between this Strange and at least one or two of his other variants, sorcerers from different worlds with vastly different backgrounds and ambitions. It remains to be seen how the original Doctor Strange will come into conflict with his other selves, but it's likely that he will have the help of The Scarlet Witch, who has also been heavily featured in promos for the film.

Defender Strange

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Marvel Studios

Fans have spotted merchandise and trailer material featuring a new variant of Doctor Strange who goes by the moniker “Defender Strange.” With a stylish dark gray and red suit and two gray streaks in his hair, this version of Doctor Strange comes from a comic book series featuring a dysfunctional team up of superheroes known as The Defenders. In those stories, The Defenders are depicted as a somewhat loose formation of superheroes without the same organization or explicit purpose as the Avengers. It's possible that this version of Strange will be even more individualistic than the original, considering his different disposition in the comic books. The Marvel live-action properties have already given viewers a glimpse of this superhero team-up in the Netflix series of the same name, and it seems like this variant may lead or become part of a new iteration of The Defenders. It’s unclear what role Defender Strange will play in the movie, but because the character’s history is largely aligned against evil, he may end up being an ally to the MCU’s original Strange.

Related: Doctor Strange 2 Trailer: All of the Comic References You May Have Missed

Strange Supreme

Evil-Doctor-Strange-destroys-the-universe
Marvel Studios

In an episode of Marvel’s What if…? series, viewers were introduced to a version of Doctor Strange that took a darker path, becoming an evil sorcerer after the death of Christine Palmer in his universe. In the quest to bring his love back to life, he falls deeper and deeper into dark magic and even absorbs a few interdimensional entities before becoming an evil entity himself. After meeting what seemed to be an untimely end, the sorcerer made an appearance in the trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Given that the character is confirmed to appear in the upcoming film, Marvel's What if...? has just much more important to watch and understand. Strange Supreme will seemingly be an antagonist to the MCU’s original Doctor Strange, foreshadowed subtly by certain shots in the trailer showing him in incredibly dark lighting with a sinister grin on his face.

Variants From Marvel’s Comic Book Universe

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Marvel Comics

Because the concept of the multiverse is enthralling and specifically vague, the possibilities for other variants of Doctor Strange are nearly limitless. In the comic books, there are already many existing variants — some that are almost identical to the original, and some who take completely different paths. For example, there's Strange 2099, a woman version of Doctor Strange who exists alongside Spider-Man 2099, another superhero rumored to make an appearance in the new film. There is also Sir Stephen Strange, a sorcerer who existed in a world where superheroes populated an Elizabethean setting and time period. There’s even Ducktor Strange, who, unsurprisingly, is a duck that comes from the same universe as Howard the duck. With a limitless pool of Strange variants to pull from, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may end up bringing even stranger variants of the popular character to life.