Did Sam Raimi miss the mark with Doctor Strange? The director reveals the one thing he underutilized in Multiverse of Madness.
While fans have had a lot to say about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, perhaps the biggest complaint is that of missed potential. The concept of Sam Raimi helming a sci-fi horror take on magic and the multiverse is one that seems too good to pass up. However, many fans left the theater wishing there was more.
And it seems that feeling even extended to Sam Raimi himself. When reflecting on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness during the promotion for his recent film Send Help, the director admitted there was one tool he underutilized while making the project. That being Rachel McAdams as Doctor Strange’s love interest: Christine Palmer.
“First, [Rachel McAdams] was the perfect person because she’s such a brilliant actress,” Raimi explains to Total Film. “I had a chance to work with her on my last film and saw how talented she was and actually underutilized, and I promised myself that I would work with her again. And then this film came up, and her warmth is wonderful.”
The Key To Doctor Strange’s Heart
Other projects in the MCU has emphasized that Christine Palmer is incredibly important to the story of Doctor Strange, acting as the hero’s “heart”. Given Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness focused so much on loss, especially when it comes to family, it would have been interesting for Sam Raimi to take a more daring swing with Rachel McAdams’ character.
Perhaps if Christine Palmer was killed or Rachel McAdams played an evil variant of her, Doctor Strange would better understand Wanda Maximoff’s plight. However, given how messy the development of the project was, it’s understandable that Sam Raimi didn’t have time to continually work over the script to make sure it was perfect.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now streaming on Disney Plus. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of Marvel Studios!
