2016’s Doctor Strange remains a top-tier MCU movie, introducing us to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange, fleshing out the mystical side of the Marvel universe, and delivering stunning psychedelic visuals. Much of this success is down to director Scott Derrickson, who made his name in horror films like The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister, and Deliver Us from Evil.
Derrickson didn’t return for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though his take on the Sorcerer Supreme has provided the bedrock for every subsequent appearance of the character. Successfully putting Strange and his powers on screen was no easy task, and now the filmmaker has named one action scene in the movie as the most challenging of his long career:
This sees Strange, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo, and Mads Mikkelsen’s Kaecilus in a time-bending and reality-warping street battle that has a lot going on. Derrickson had to contend with figuring out how action would work with some characters moving forwards and backward through time, as well as a huge amount of destruction, and complex CGI.
Having written the script, it’s been pointed out that he has nobody to blame but himself:
Derrickson went on to direct the excellent The Black Phone, and is currently working on a sequel to the beloved 1980s classic Labyrinth, as well as an Apple TV movie The Gorge. We’re still holding out hope he’ll one day return to the MCU, whether for Doctor Strange 3 or a completely new project.
It’s worth noting that despite stepping away from Multiverse of Madness due to creative differences with Kevin Feige’s vision, he still maintains good relations with the studio. After rewatching that scene for the first time in years, we find ourselves craving more like it. Here’s hoping that eventually comes to be.