Marvel’s sequel to their 2016 Doctor Strange film has just been released in select countries all over the world. With it comes a new expansion into unfamiliar territory as the Marvel Cinematic Universe morphs into a collective of different realities called the multiverse. But unlike the Sorcerer Supreme’s first adventure in the MCU, his follow-up has fans buzzing, thanks to different twists and several cameos no one saw coming. To help make sense of it all, here’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ending explained.
Be warned, though, because there’ll be a lot of spoilers and epic details up ahead. If you don’t want your viewing experience to be affected, it would be best to turn away now.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ending explained
Early in the story, the main plot point that drives the film is the arrival of America Chavez to the main MCU and the main identity of her main pursuer. This happens due to Chavez’s ability to create star-shaped portals that act as doorways to other alternate realities in the multiverse.
After securing Chavez, Stephen Strange travels to Wanda Maximoff’s location and implores her aid in finding the cause of this multiversal problem. Keep in mind that this is the same Wanda we last saw at the end of her Disney+ series, the one who lost her children and gained the Darkhold at the same time. The latter, of course, is a tome filled with dark magic that slowly corrupted the Avenger.
At this point, it is revealed that the main antagonist of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is no other than the Scarlet Witch herself, Wanda Maximoff. As both Strange and Chvez escape her clutches, they find themselves in an alternate universe where the Illuminati exists.
The Illuminati in this part of the multiverse came together after their Doctor Strange became reckless, causing the group to eliminate him. As a result of this incident, Mordo becomes the Sorcerer Supreme and assembles Peggy Carter, Black Bolt, Maria Rambeau, Professor Charles Xavier, and Reed Richards to become their world’s guardians.
While the Illuminati are holding Strange, Wanda finds a way to possess her variant in that universe and proceeds to the Illuminati headquarters. Her arrival leads to an all-out brawl which sees the Scarlet Witch kill the Illuminati. She then sends Strange and the Christine Palmer of that world to another alternate universe while taking Chavez prisoner.
In order to make it back, Strange defeats his variant, takes hold of his Darkhold, and possesses another deceased variant left in the main MCU to defeat Wanda. For her part, Wanda escapes to inhabit a variant of herself in another universe, one in which she’s happily living with her kids. This is where the former Avenger realizes how wrong her actions were and proceeds to kill herself out of regret. Her end is left ambiguous, which can open up a way for Wanda to return in the future.
The film ends with Chavez training at Kamar-Taj and Strange developing a third eye in the mid-credits scene. At that point, a female sorcerer called Clea, played by no other than Charlize Theron, arrives and asks for Strange’s help to stop an incursion from the dark dimension.
What just happened? A Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness recap
Almost no one had the slightest clue about Wanda being the film’s primary antagonist in the weeks leading up to its release. With trailers marketing Multiverse of Madness as a battle between alternate variants of Doctor Strange, plus the beloved reputation of Wanda in the fandom, this twist is one that elevates the movie’s plot and propels it forward.
At the end of it all, the concept of the multiverse is further solidified as an important element of Marvel’s filmmaking strategy for Phase 4 and beyond. The appearance of fan-favorite characters, such as Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter, and John Krasinki’s Mister Fantastic, and even surprise cameos by Anson Mount’s Black Bolt and Lashana Lynch’s Maria Rambeau, is going to drive the point further that Marvel is going big with this concept. It seems, though, that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is just the tip of the iceberg.
The ending also places America Chavez firmly in the main MCU. With her history as part of the Young Avengers in the comics, there is a strong chance she joins the said group, along with Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye. Furthermore, Strange’s usage of dark magic opens the way for a third film in the future with Clea by his side. In the source material, Clea is Strange’s wife and hails from the Dark Dimension, the same one that has Dormammu in it.
As it stands, we’re now in the middle of Phase 4 and it looks like Marvel has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. And while Strange’s part in this particular phase is over, fans can look forward to Miss Marvel in June and Thor: Love and Thunder in July. In any case, this year will be a good one for the Marvel faithful.
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