By this time next week, Marvel fans will have seen the first episode of Loki on Disney+, and begin sharing their initial impressions of Michael Waldron’s work as the show’s head writer. But beyond this, it will also give us an idea of what to expect from Waldron’s other big Marvel project coming down the pipeline: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In a new profile published by Vanity Fair, Waldron discussed how he went about crafting Stephen Strange’s sequel.
Waldron was tapped to rewrite the script for Doctor Strange 2 in February of last year, shortly before Sam Raimi replaced Scott Derrickson as the film’s director. At first, he was intimidated by the challenge of writing a movie in just two months before shooting began in May. But once COVID-19 came along, the start date was pushed to November. This allowed Waldron and Raimi to develop the sequel “from scratch.” And when it came to writing Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer Supreme, Waldron looked to a beloved pop cultural icon for inspiration.
“I gravitated toward [travel documentarian and chef] Anthony Bourdain,” said Waldron. “Strange is an elitist as a neurosurgeon and a sorcerer. Anthony Bourdain was a man of the people, but there was that intense intellect. You always felt like he could eviscerate anybody with his words at any time. But yet, Anthony Bourdain never really punched down. That was the first ingredient in the stew for Doctor Strange.”
RELATED: Kevin Feige Confirms Doctor Strange Was Written Out of WandaVision
Additionally, Waldron drew influence from another marquee action star whose characters display a certain type of vulnerability.
“He’s Indiana Jones in a cloak to me,” added Waldron. “He’s a hero who can take a punch. That’s what made those Harrison Ford heroes so great. Those guys get their asses kicked. Look at Stephen Strange in the first movie. He’s really getting beat up, but he’s very capable and everything. I can tell you that it’s a ride…very Sam Raimi. The film is incredibly visually thrilling. John Mathieson, our D.P., who shot Gladiator and Logan—I think the look of it is going to be unlike anything you’ve seen in the MCU before.”
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on March 25, 2022.
Are you looking forward to seeing what Waldron came up with for the sequel? Let us know in the comments down below!
Recommended Reading: Doctor Strange Vol. 1: The Way of the Weird
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
