Director Sam Raimi is often credited with making some of the best comic book films ever in the form of Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, but following Spider-Man 3, Raimi was unsure he’d ever return to the world of comic book movies.
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Speaking to Collider in a recent interview, Raimi was asked why he would want to get back into the world of comics with the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, especially after Spider-Man 3 was widely panned by both critics and fans alike.
“I didn’t know that I could face it again because it was so awful, having been the director of Spider-Man 3,” Raimi said. “The Internet was getting revved up and people disliked that movie and they sure let me know about it. So, it was difficult to take back on. But then, I found out that there was an opening on Doctor Strange 2. My agent called me and said, ‘They’re looking for a director at Marvel for this movie and your name came up. Would you be interested?’ And I thought, ‘I wonder if I could still do it.’ They’re really demanding, those types of pictures.
“And I felt, ‘Well, that’s reason enough.’ I’ve always really liked the character of Doctor Strange. He was not my favorite, but he was right up there with the favorites. I loved the first movie, I thought [director] Scott Derrickson did a wonderful job, an incredible job. So, I said, ‘Yeah.’ They left the character in a great place. I didn’t think I would be doing another superhero movie. it just happened.”
While it remains to be seen if Raimi will succeed with the upcoming Doctor Strange film, the stories that have come out regarding the behind-the-scenes issues with Spider-Man 3 have been enough for most fans to ease up on blaming the director for the film. Now, he’ll have another chance to wow audiences with another comic book film entry.
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Described as the first MCU horror film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sees the return of Cumberbatch as he reprises his role as Dr. Stephen Strange. This time the Sorcerer Supreme will be joined by Wanda Maximoff/ Scarlett Witch, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, who is coming off from the critical success of WandaVision. The sequel is expected to tie into the events from WandaVision, Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently slated to debut on March 25, 2022, as part of Marvel Cinematic Universe’ Phase 4.