The trailer starts with Strange examining everything that’s gone wrong since the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home — which it seems like he didn’t clean up as well as he expected. Strange’s universe, and that of the MCU, is on the verge of a multiversal catastrophe and it’s up to him to stop it. Of course, a few people are standing in his way, including Mordo, some creatures from other dimensions, and a seemingly evil version of Stephen himself. The good news is, The Sorcerer Supreme will have some help from Wong and Wanda Maximoff who shows up in this trailer as well.
In case you forgot what happened to Wanda between Avengers: Endgame and right now, here’s a brief refresher — mostly in the form of spoilers for the Disney Plus series WandaVision. Wanda broken Vision’s body out of SWORD headquarters and transported it to Westview, New Jersey where she used her powerful magic to create the illusion of a perfect sitcom town, including mind controlling the town’s real residents to help enact her fantasy. Eventually Wanda meets a witch named Agatha Harkness who tries to steal her powers, encounters an all-white version of the Vision, and finally sets the town free before going into hiding. Which is probably roughly where Strange finds her in this trailer.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is directed by Sam Raimi. The first trailer was revealed as the second post-credits scene for Spider-Man: No Way Home. The movie is set to be released on May 6, 2022.
In one of the trailer's more intriguing reveals, Stephen Strange is seen attending the wedding of his ex-girlfriend Christine Palmer. Despite clearly caring for each other, the two ended their relationship on good terms in the first Doctor Strange, and these brief shots show that Christine has moved on from Stephen. However, Christine will still likely play an important role in the sequel, given the fact that an entire episode of What If...? explored just how far Strange would go to get her back.
The Multiverse of Madness teaser introduces America Chavez to the MCU, though the glimpses of her that it provides are admittedly very brief. Early in the teaser, she is seen entering a mystical place that appears to be Kamar-Taj, wearing a jacket that hearkens back to her iconic look from the comic book source material. Later, she is glimpsed standing alongside Doctor Strange and Christine Palmer as they realize the true scope of the multiversal madness that they're in for.
One of the trailer's biggest moments features Strange approaching Wanda Maximoff in a beautiful forested area, asking for her help. Wanda appears to still be in her self-imposed exile following the events of WandaVision, and Strange even mentions Westview by name when speaking to her. Things take a dramatic turn when the good doctor asks Wanda what she knows about the multiverse, and she is later seen meditating in her new costume with a dark look in her eye, suggesting that the Scarlet Witch may end up embracing her darker tendencies and acting as more of a foe than a friend to Stephen Strange.
Though Karl Mordo initially served as an ally to Stephen Strange in his first solo film, he had become radicalized and turned evil by the time of Doctor Strange's post-credits scene. The Multiverse of Madness teaser seems to confirm that he has continued on his anti-sorcerer campaign, now with much longer hair and an ax to grind against his former friend. After telling Strange that he himself poses the greatest threat to the universe, Mordo is also briefly seen fighting his fellow sorcerer, who appears to be restrained with handcuffs of some kind.
While Mordo's voice is heard scolding Stephen, several shots show Kamar-Taj coming under attack from an unseen foe. A dark cloud of smoke is initially seen covering the mystical community before several explosions rock the training ground, apparently badly injuring Wong. Interestingly, the previously hinted-at character Rintrah is seen on the grounds of Kamar-Taj during one of these shots, though it's currently unknown whether he is part of the attacking or defending force.
The Multiverse of Madness teaser confirms that one of Marvel Comics' strangest and most powerful villains is coming to the MCU, as Doctor Strange is shown fighting none other than Shuma-Gorath. The monstrous being throws a bus at the former Sorcerer Supreme, who uses his magic to cut the vehicle in half before it hits him. Shuma-Gorath's involvement in the film has been teased since its announcement, so his appearance in the trailer is sure to excite fans of Marvel's more mystical side.
The biggest reveal in the Multiverse of Madness teaser comes at its very end, with Stephen Strange coming face-to-face with himself. All signs point to this version of Strange actually being the corrupted variant introduced in episode 4 of What If...?, who has been nicknamed "Strange Supreme" by the show's viewers as well as its own creative team. Although Season 1 of the series ended with Strange Supreme keeping watch over Arnim Zola and Killmonger (who are trapped in a pocket dimension), his circumstances seem to have changed a bit, as the trailer shows the Sacred Timeline's Doctor Strange journeying through a destroyed Sanctum Santorum to meet him.
