‘Doctor Strange 2’ Casting Rumors: Are Emma Watson and Cillian Murphy Joining the ‘Multiverse of Madness’?
Casting rumors are heating up for Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange 2. Filming for the project is expected to kick off in a few months, and several of Hollywood’s top stars — including Emma Watson and Cillian Murphy — are reportedly joining the film. What are the chances that Watson and Murphy become a part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness?
Inside Marvel’s plans for ‘Doctor Strange 2’
The highly anticipated Doctor Strange sequel has been hit with a slew of rumors ever since Marvel announced the title last summer. The movie will be the studio’s first foray into the horror genre and will explore the multiverse like never before.
To that end, there have been quite a few actors that have been linked to the project. Although Marvel has not confirmed any of these rumors, sources claim that Malachi Kirby is set to appear as Voodoo in the film.
Director Sam Raimi has also reportedly asked Bruce Campbell and Ted Raimi to join the project, which is rumored to introduce Ghost Rider and an alternate version of Black Panther.
With Doctor Strange 2 looking at the multiverse, there is a chance that fans will see a plethora of alternate superheroes. We also know that the events in Loki and WandaVision will play a part in the film, so there is no telling what where the sequel will pick up.
Who might be joining ‘Doctor Strange 2’?
In the latest casting news, an inside source says that Marvel wants to cast Watson and Murphy for important parts in Doctor Strange 2. According to Cosmic Book, the studio wants the Harry Potter star to play the role of Clea, while Murphy is in the running to portray Nightmare.
In the comics, Clea is a romantic interest for Strange and is a powerful sorceress in her own right. Nightmare, on the other hand, is a long-time nemesis of Cumberbatch’s character and could be the movie’s main villain.
That said, Marvel has not confirmed any of these casting rumors. The insider also posted the report on 4Chan, so fans should take it with a massive grain of salt.
Fans, of course, would love to see Watson and Murphy join the MCU, and including them in a film like Doctor Strange 2 would be a huge boost for Marvel (not that it needs one).
What about those Eva Green rumors?
Aside from Watson and Murphy, there has been some talk about Eve Green joining the Multiverse of Madness. The rumors have not specified a role for Green, though reports had her possibly playing Clea instead of Watson.
Unfortunately, Green recently shot down the Doctor Strange rumors and revealed that she has not been cast for a role in the film. According to Screen Rant, the actress debunked the reports in a new interview, though she also admitted that she is a fan of Marvel movies.
“Me? No! Not that I know of. Not at all,” Green stated. “I like the humor in them. I saw the trailer for Black Widow… I’d like to see that one.”
Black Widow is Scarlett Johansson’s first solo outing as Natasha Romanoff. The movie is set to hit theaters in May, though that might change in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
When will production on ‘Doctor Strange 2’ begin?
When Marvel announced its slate of Phase 4 films last summer, Scott Derrickson was still expected to return to helm the sequel. That all changed, however, when Derrickson and Marvel parted ways over “creative differences.”
Since then, Marvel has hired Raimi to take charge of the project. The studio wants Doctor Strange 2 to be a mixture between a horror and superhero movie, two genres Raimi has plenty of experience in. Not only did Raimi direct the Spider-Man trilogy the early 2000s, but he also was the creator behind The Evil Dead series.
Before Derrickson departed, he had shooting locations lined up in Norway. Production was supposed to start in May of 2020, and Marvel has yet to deviate from that schedule.
That could change, of course, depending on what happens with the pandemic. If things do not get any better, there is a good chance that the studio will delay production until the summer or fall.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is scheduled to open in theaters on May 7, 2021.
