Following the release of MCU’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, audiences were bewildered with the movie since it was nothing like what they had expected from the 2016 movie’s sequel. However, Stephen Strange’s investigation of the multiverse in 2022 certainly set up a potentially exciting focus for the third movie.
Therefore, now rumors surrounding the threequel suggest — with Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular character gearing up for his appearance, other important characters like Charlize Theron’s Clea and the 2016 installment’s Dormammu are also preparing for an alleged return. Although Theron previously claimed that her MCU future is uncertain, reports suggest that she might reprise her role.
Charlize Theron’s Clea Might Return in Doctor Strange 3
After Charlize Theron made her MCU debut in the credit scene of 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, her cliffhanger role left fans eagerly anticipating her return. Unfortunately, there were no reports surrounding her potential future with Marvel. Thereafter, following the conclusion of Benedict Cumberbatch’s sequel, the MCU went silent about further Doctor Strange sequels.
However, considering how Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness set up a potential future for the titular character as well as other MCU actors, fans started sparking rumors about the possibility of Doctor Strange 3. Although nothing has been confirmed about the movie by Marvel Studios, netizens began teasing iconic storylines that allegedly bring back big guns for the threequel.
Reported by Marvel Updates on X, Doctor Strange 3 is supposedly planning on bringing back Dormammu from the 2016 installment in a different form. Not just that, but good news for Charlize Theron fans, as rumors suggest the threequel’s potential plans to explore Clea’s storyline. Considering the character was introduced for a brief period despite having a massive past, fans believe the third installment could explore that past.
Dormammu will return in a different form in 'DOCTOR STRANGE 3'.
Clea's past will be explored in the movie.
Marvel Studios wants Sam Raimi as director.
The filming will begin in 2025. pic.twitter.com/ZvmD6XWg14
— Marvel Updates (@marvel_updat3s) May 26, 2024
Meanwhile, other reported updates suggest that Marvel is planning on bringing back Sam Raimi for his directorial responsibilities, after his iconic works in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as well as initial Spider-Man movies, starring Tobey Maguire. Further, according to reports, Doctor Strange 3 is set to begin filming in 2025.
Charlize Theron Previously Spoke About Her Potential MCU Future
Although rumors from Marvel Updates over the alleged Doctor Strange 3 movie suggested Charlize Theron’s return as Clea, to explore her past and vast storyline, the actress had previously addressed her future with the MCU. According to her conversation with MTV‘s Josh Horowitz, while promoting Fast X in Rome, Theron awkwardly noted that her potential return to MCU was dubious.
I don’t. No, I haven’t gotten a call. I’ve not gotten a [call], Is that bad? No, I’m not lying. I haven’t gotten a call. Is that bad?
Audiences didn’t get to learn a lot about Clea through Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, despite Marvel Comics suggesting a vast backstory for Charlize Theron’s character. According to the Comics, Theron’s Clea is related to the big bad Dormammu featured in 2016’s Doctor Strange and is closely linked to the Dark Dimension.
Therefore, since Charlize Theron’s character Clea appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to whisk Benedict Cumberbatch‘s titular hero on a new adventure during the credit scenes, fans believe there’s a lot to explore about her role and her intentions with Doctor Strange. Thus, alleged reports about Doctor Strange 3 suggested the return of Dormammu in a different form, alongside Clea’s potential comeback.
Doctor Strange movies are available on Disney+.
