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After 27 films and six shows, the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows no signs of slowing down. And since the Avengers saga is seemingly over, perhaps it’s time for a new team-up from the comic books to appear on the big screen. Here’s why we think Doctor Strange 2 will further set up the Midnight Sons in the MCU.

Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Midnight Sons member Doctor Strange in 'Doctor Strange 2,' wears a gray suit over a white shirt and yellow scarf.
Benedict Cumberbatch | Photo by Gerald Matzka/picture alliance via Getty Images

Who are the Midnight Sons, and how are they connected to Doctor Strange?

The Midnight Sons are a group of supernatural beings from Marvel comics who team up to fight evil forces. The team first banded together in Ghost Rider #31 in November 1992 when two Ghost Riders — Danny Ketch and Johnny Blaze — wanted to stop Lilith from conquering Earth.

Many Marvel superheroes have been a part of the Midnight Sons at one point or another, including Doctor Strange. A few other members are Ghost Rider, Punisher, Werewolf by Night, Moon Knight, Morbius, Black Cat, Blade, Iron Fist, and more.

The MCU has already established a few of these heroes on the big screen, and Marvel will introduce a few more in upcoming films or television shows.

1 ‘Eternals’ post-credits scene may have teased the Midnight Sons

With the announcement of new projects like Moon Knight, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, an untitled Halloween special featuring Werewolf by Night, and Blade, many fans believed that the MCU would soon introduce the Midnight Sons. But a surprising post-credits scene in Eternals provides the strongest evidence that the Midnight Sons are coming to the MCU.

Dane Whitman, played by Kit Harington, was Sersi’s seemingly innocent human love interest in Eternals. However, Dane has an extensive history as Black Knight in the comic books. And fans got a tease of his destiny during a post-credits scene in the MCU film.

After the credits, Dane opens a box that contains the cursed Ebony Blade, the source of Black Knight’s power. A voice offscreen asks him, “Are you sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?” Director Chloé Zhao later confirmed the voice belongs to Mahershala Ali, who is set to play Blade in an upcoming MCU movie.

Even though Black Knight has never been a part of the Midnight Sons alongside the likes of Doctor Strange in the comics, he could still join the team in the MCU. And after seeing the Eternals post-credits scene, many fans believe that Blade will be the Nick Fury of the Midnight Sons by assembling different members.

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Why we think ‘Doctor Strange 2’ will further set up the Midnight Sons

If Blade started with Dane Whitman in Eternals, there’s a chance that he would show up in Doctor Strange 2 to recruit more members for the Midnight Sons. Doctor Strange has been a staple of the team in the comics. And if Scarlet Witch doesn’t turn evil in the Doctor Strange sequel, she could also join the group. Plus, the film dives deep into the multiverse, meaning that its possibilities are endless.

While speaking with Fandango, Doctor Strange 2 director Sam Raimi teased what fans could expect regarding surprises and cameos.

“I guess I would say that … Spider-Man [No Way Home] broke open [the idea that] characters from the multiverse could visit our universe,” he explained. “But this is the first time that characters from our universe will go out into the multiverse and experience other universes. So, it’s going to be a continuation, but that, I think, is one of the biggest appeals.”

Raimi continued, “Finding other realities, and how they rhyme with our own, or how they are completely the opposite, or variations thereof. I think therein lies the interest of this picture.”

It’s unlikely that Blade or the Midnight Sons would be a major part of Doctor Strange 2. The film will primarily focus on the multiverse and its dangers. However, similar to Eternals, Blade could theoretically appear in a post-credits scene. Marvel might be mirroring its first few films, but instead of Nick Fury recruiting Tony Stark and Steve Rogers for the Avengers, Blade is gathering a new group of heroes for the Midnight Sons.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premieres exclusively in theaters on May 6.

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