- Or all of the Hell-Lords will be introduced.
- And maybe, just like how J. K. Simmons reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson in the MCU after playing him in the Spider-Man Trilogy, Ciarán Hinds maybe reprises his role as Mephisto from Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance here as the MCU version.
- Jossed.
- Confirmed, he appears as a Pizza Poppa vendor.
- Possibly confirmed, as both Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne were both allegedly spotted on a farm set.
- Confirmed/Jossed, they both appear in the movie, but the same age they were at the end of WandaVision, and they don’t end up in the “616” timeline
- Jossed, even if they do go to the 'space between spaces' where he lives.
- Sort of - like anyone who reads the Darkhold, he gets corrupted by it.
- Iron Man
- Tom Cruise
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Timothy Olyphant
- Clive Owen
- Nicolas Cage
- Sam Rockwell
- Unlikely, unless he is a variant of Justin Hammer.
- Jossed. Iron Man doesn't show up at all.
- Mr. Fantastic
- Alexis Denisof
- Kit Harington
- Jossed. He was already cast in Eternals as Dane Whitman
- Richard Madden
- Jossed. He was already cast as Ikaris in Eternals.
- Brendan Fraser
- George Clooney
- Jack O'Connell
- Mads Mikkelsen
- Jossed: He already played Kaecilius in Doctor Strange (2016)
- John Krasinski
- Confirmed.
- Professor X
- Jamie Dornan
- Jonas Armstrong
- Matthew James Thomas
- Patrick J. Adams
- Boyd Holbrook
- All of these are Jossed, as it was confirmed that Patrick Stewart was reprising the role.
- Ghost Rider
- Eric Bana
- Gabriel Luna (officially making Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. MCU canon)
- Norman Reedus
- Jossed. Ghost Rider did not appear
- Wolverine
- Russell Crowe
- Jossed. Crowe will have a cameo as Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder.
- Danny DeVito (this is a pretty popular meme)
- Aaron Eckhart
- Oscar Isaac
- Jossed. He was already cast as Moon Knight.
- Viggo Mortensen
- Edward Norton
- Daniel Radcliffe
- Keanu Reeves
- Dougray Scott
- All Jossed. Wolverine does not appear.
- Russell Crowe
- Magneto
- Terence Stamp
- Andrew Garfield
- Jossed: He returned as "Amazing Spider-Man" in No Way Home
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Jossed:Previously played Wanda's brother Pietro and was likely unavailable due to Sony's Kraven film.
- Eddie Redmayne
- Frank Dillane
- Jack Huston
- Jossed. Magneto does not appear.
- Captain America
- John Krasinski
- Jossed, he plays Mister Fantastic instead.
- Garrett Hedlund
- Channing Tatum
- Scott Porter
- Mike Vogel
- Chace Crawford
- Wyatt Russell
- Jossed. Captain America doesn't appear... unless you count Captain Carter.
- John Krasinski
- Black Widow
- Jessica Alba
- Lake Bell
- Emily Blunt
- Jossed, John Krasinski as Reed is borderline confirming her as Sue.
- No, not really. For one, Blunt has been, well, blunt about her disinterest in superhero movies and there's been no official word on the Fantastic Four film other than Feige reportedly saying it's been pushed back following Watts leaving due to wanting a break from making blockbusters.
- Jessica Biel
- Natalie Portman
- Jossed. It's unlikely she is playing a variant Natasha. A variant of Jane Foster on the other hand...
- Angelina Jolie
- Jossed. Jolie already was cast as the prominent role of Thena in Eternals.
- All Jossed. Black Widow does not appear.
- Hawkeye
- Jensen Ackles
- Josh Holloway
- Jossed. Hawkeye does not appear, but is referenced by Strange.
- Hulk
- Edward Norton (in an alternate universe where Norton stayed as the Hulk past The Incredible Hulk)
- Matthew McConaughey
- Joaquin Phoenix
- Steve Buscemi
- Jossed.
- Thor
- Loki
- Josh Hartnett
- Jim Carrey
- Charlie Cox
- Jossed: Reprised his role as Daredevil in No Way Home.
- Jossed. No Loki
- Storm
- Beyoncé
- Jossed
- Beyoncé
- Thanos
- Damion Poitier
- Isaac C. Singleton Jr.
- Jossed, he only appears in a flashback, dead and identical to the Sacred Timeline.
- Jean Grey
- Charlize Theron
- Jossed, she plays Clea in The Stinger.
- Sophie Turner
- Mara Wilson
- Jossed: Wilson has retired from Acting.
- Chloë Grace Moretz
- All Jossed.
- Charlize Theron
- The Thing
- John C. Reilly
- Jossed. Reilly was previously cast as Rhomann Dey in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). He has also been unable to return to MCU multiple times, due to other film commitments.
- Bruce Willis
- Possibly Jossed due to Willis forced to retire due to his health.
- Nathan Fillion
- All Jossed.
- John C. Reilly
- Invisible Woman
- Renée Zellweger
- Margot Robbie
- Kate Bosworth
- Sarah Michelle Gellar
- Jossed. Mr. Fantastic alludes to her in the film.
- Human Torch
- Pete Davidson
- Chris Evans
- Chris Pine
- Jossed.
- Daredevil
- Elektra
- Jessica Alba
- Jennifer Aniston
- Salma Hayek
- Jossed. While Hayek still has a Marvel contract, it's likely only for her role as Ajax.
- Lucy Liu
- All Jossed.
- She-Hulk
- Stephanie Beatriz
- Alison Brie
- Zoë Chao
- Gillian Jacobs
- Rosario Dawson
- Betty Gilpin
- Brigitte Nielsen
- Zoe Saldaña
- Jossed, no Jen until her own show.
- Spider-Man
- Asa Butterfield
- Michael Cera
- Timothée Chalamet
- Jossed: Chalamet has no interest in being in Superhero movies.
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Zac Efron
- Alden Ehrenreich
- Donald Glover
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Josh Hutcherson
- Logan Lerman
- Robert Pattinson
- Freddie Prinze Jr.
- Jim Sturgess
- Jossed. Spider-Man is referenced by Strange.
- Star-Lord
- John Krasinski
- Jossed, he plays Mister Fantastic instead.
- John Krasinski
- Gamora
- Olivia Wilde
- Amanda Seyfried
- Jose.
- Squirrel Girl
- Anna Kendrick
- Milana Vayntrub
- Jossed
- Wasp
- Scarlett Johansson
- Jossed: No plans for Scarlett's return in an acting capacity for Marvel anytime soon. She will only be serving as an Executive Producer in an upcoming Marvel Project. While Wasp is indirectly referenced by Strange, A Variant of Wasp was initially planned in the first drafts of script, as a member of the Iluminati. It is unknown whether Evangeline Lily, Michelle Pfeiffer or another actress would of played the role.
- Scarlett Johansson
- Black Panther
- John Boyega
- Djimon Hounsou
- Denzel Washington
- Jossed: Kevin Feige said there were no plans to recast T'Challa.
- Doctor Doom
- Nicolas Cage
- Mads Mikkelsen
- Jossed:See Above Example
- Tim Robbins
- Jossed. No Dr. Doom in the film
- Doctor Strange
- Joaquin Phoenix
- Colin Farrell
- Jossed. All alternate Stranges are Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Gambit
- Channing Tatum
- Jossed
- Channing Tatum
- Luke Cage
- Laurence Fishburne
- Jossed. Fishburne already portrayed Bill Foster.
- Laurence Fishburne
- Iron Fist
- Ray Park
- Jossed
- Ray Park
- Doctor Octopus
- Chris Cooper
- David Duchovny
- Ed Harris
- Sam Neill
- Jossed. He has already been cast in the cameo role of an Odin Asgard Actor in Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder
- Robert De Niro
- Liev Schreiber
- Christopher Walken
- Christoph Waltz
- All Jossed.
- Vulture
- Mysterio
- Bruce Campbell
- Jossed. He plays a Pizza Poppa vendor.
- Zachary Quinto
- Matt Damon
- Andrew Scott
- Matt Smith
- Jossed.
- Bruce Campbell
- Green Goblin
- Bullseye
- Ben Affleck
- Jossed.
- Ben Affleck
- Carnage
- Alan Tudyk
- Jossed.
- Alan Tudyk
- Venom
- Finn Wittrock
- Tom Hardy
- Topher Grace
- Jossed.
- Moon Knight
- Rami Malek
- Ross Marquand
- Jossed. No variant of Moon Knight appeared. Marquand already portrayed Red Skull in the MCU, though he does appear in this film as the voice of Ultron.
- Black Bolt
- Vin Diesel
- Jossed, it's Anson Mount again.
- Vin Diesel
- Mister Sinister
- Jon Hamm
- Jossed.
- Jon Hamm
- Jossed.
- Keith David
- Stephen Tobolowsky
- Bruce Campbell
- Andy Serkis
- Richard McGonagle
- Gary Oldman
- Mark Hamill
- Bill Nighy
- Ian McShane
- Charles Dance
- Michael Sheen
- Christoph Waltz
- Ralph Fiennes
- Paul Dobson (Role Reprise from Marvel vs. Capcom 3)
- Ray Porter
- All Jossed, Gargantos (i.e. Shuma-Gorath) doesn't speak at all. However, one of Elizabeth Olsen's eyes was used for Shuma-Gorath's eye, as a clever foreshadowing Easter Egg.
- As a villain like he was in the comics.
- Jossed.
- Jossed, America's dimension is still only women, but the dimension of those twins is the one most present in the plot.
- Confirmed. Marvel does not own the rights.
- Confirmed... although most of the time it's the other way around.
- Sadly Jossed, Wanda pulls a Face–Heel Turn.
- Jossed.
- Confirmed. But then she goes onto a dark path he can't agree with.
- Confirmed.
- Well, she is the villain, but not protagonistic enough.
- Mixed. She has a last minute change of the heart and destroys all copies of the Darkholds. But, the Multiverse is out of control.
- Confirmed.
- Confirmed, even if it's only in the ending.
- It should be pointed out that it hasn't actually been confirmed that Loki will be appearing in the film, just speculated. Marvel Studios has not confirmed his involvement as of the first teaser trailer being release.
- Jossed.
- Mirroring the above item about Loki, it has not been confirmed (yet) that Sylvie is appearing in the film either.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Confirmed, but unrelated to other series.
- Sylvie from Disney+'s Loki is a composite character of the Enchantress and Female Loki. It's quite possible that she may face off against Dr.Strange or officially don the name 'Enchantress' by the end of the film.
- Jossed.
- Jossed, the 'Supreme Strange' is not the one from What If...?
- Bruce Campbell's appearances could also turn out to be him after being previously rumored as Mysterio.
- Jossed.
- And with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, just around the corner, another Killmonger could send Wakanda back into chaos.
- Jossed.
- Confirmed.
- He's actually a Strange Supreme variant who did everything that the other Strange Supreme did, but this variant was never recruited by Uatu and never got redemption saving the multiverse from Infinity Ultron.
- Perhaps this was one a bit more like the ST counterpart in being more arrogant and less attached to Chrstine then in episode 4 and so never quite realised he was wrong all too late.
- Confirmed, this one was corrupted by the Darkhold.
- Kind of - it's revealed that the Darkhold holds transcriptions of dark spells carved onto a temple's walls, so there's an explanation for having two of them.
- In a way, given Wanda using the Darkhold is what opens a rift between her and strange.
- Jossed.
The exact roster of the Illuminati varies, but these are some examples we could see:
- James McAvoy or Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier from the X-Men Film Series franchise.
- Confirmed. Patrick Stewart makes a vocal cameo in the Super Bowl trailer, with the implication that he's Charles Xavier hanging heavily over the proceedings. A new TV spot confirmed that he is indeed playing a variant of Charles Xavier.
- Ioan Gruffudd or Miles Teller as Reed Richards from the 2000s films or the 2015 reboot. It has been reported that John Krasinski may appear as a Mr. Fantastic variant, but what if maybe Ioan Gruffudd or Miles Teller returns to play their Mr. Fantastic version in the film? If the Illuminati members are variants, they could have resorted to hiring a new actor, but Patrick Stewart returned, so why not with one of the previous Mr. Fantastics?
- Jossed, Mr. Fantastic does appear but he’s played by John Krasinski.
- Tom Cruise as Iron Man, as a nod to how he was the original choice for the role back when the movie was in development during the 1990s.
- Anson Mount as Black Bolt from the 2017 Inhumans series, which could also give Marvel Studios an opportunity to establish that it's not canon to the MCU and free up those characters to be used again elsewhere, possibly in the Ms. Marvel series. Another option could be Vin Diesel, who was in negotiations to play Black Bolt in the unproduced Inhumans film.
- Confirmed, but he is not the same Black Bolt from the show.
- Tenoch Huerta as Sub-Mariner. If Huerta has been cast as Namor as rumored in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, then maybe Huerta plays the Illuminati's Namor.
- Variants of MCU characters deceased in the Sacred Timeline.
- Anthony Hopkins as a variant of Odin.
- Rene Russo as a variant of Frigga.
- John Kani as a variant of T'Chaka.
- Tilda Swinton as a variant of the Ancient One.
- Salma Hayek as a variant of Ajak. She was built up as a major player in Eternals, only to be unceremoniously killed off two-thirds into the film. Despite this, Hayek revealed she has signed on for multiple MCU films. Having her on the Illuminati could be one way she possibly returns.
- James McAvoy or Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier from the X-Men Film Series franchise.
- Confirmed, the group that Strange is brought to is confirmed to be the Illuminati in the “Time” spot. Along with Reed, Black Bolt and Xavier are Captain Carter and Maria Rambeau as Captain Marvel.
- Jossed.
- Well, Xavier is introduced. But he doesn't reside in the Sacred Timeline.
- Well, Reed is introduced, and even said to be a Fantastic Four member. But he doesn't reside in the Sacred Timeline.
- While not by any means confirmation, some have noticed an image in one of the shards on the poster bears a resemblance to Deadpool.
- Jossed.
- Jossed, even if it has Xavier.
- It confirms that other universes already have a Fantastic Four, but their Sacred Timeline counterparts are still pending.
- Jossed.
- Jossed, specially as the tentacle monster isn't Shuma-Gorath.
- Only Mordo serves as a villain. Supreme Strange does fight the main one, but it's too brief.
- Jossed.
- Well, she actually decides to go against Strange all the way. And the twins are really someone else's children, namely an alternate Wanda. And she ultimately sees the errors of her Protagonist Journey to Villain.
- Jossed, the zombie Strange is actually one revived through possession.
- Jossed, even if he does mention Spider-Man and a multiversal crisis caused by him.
- Jossed, no Spidey.
- Jossed.
- either an external force will prey on this guilt
- or Wanda herself will overstep the limits to correct her "mistake"
- Sort of the second - she discovers most of the Wandas of the Multiverse still have their sons, and Jumps Off The Slippery Slope trying to solve the absence of theirs.
- Kind of - being isolated while learning her alternate selves are still with the twins breaks her as much as the Darkhold.
To add to that, the scene in the orchard is directly followed by the scene from the trailer where Wanda says "that doesn't seem fair". When the illusion of the orchard is dispelled, it transforms into a barren red land with dead branches in the background. Strange has the same casual costume, but Wanda is now wearing her "evil" one. The shot of the hissing raven from the teaser is from the same scene, or at least from the same location.
- Confirmed!
She needs Wong:
- either as a bargaining chip to get what she needs from Strange, giving Strange the Sadistic Choice to either save his friend and comrade and doom the multiverse, or let her kill Wong;
- or to interrogate him because he has some secret knowledge she craves.
- Confirmed! And it's the second, Wong knows the source of the Darkhold.
- Unclear. Although the destruction of the Darkhold might diminish what she knows to do.
- repeatedly sacrificing others to save the world has taken toll on Strange, and he will be unwilling to do it yet again
- he will try to abide by his Hippocratic Oath
- he finds Wanda too similar to himself
- Confirmed, he likes her and knows she's corrupted, and is not pleased at the confrontation.
- Well, there are three. The evil one is an obstacle. The good one helps Strange by giving him a body to possess. Another was in-between, and is already dead when we reach his world.
- Confirmed, he uses dreamwalking on a dead body and even attracts evil spirits for it.
- Jossed, she’s played by Charlize Theron. The Christine Palmer variant in blue is just Christine.
- Jossed, they have many contrasts, but her being a nuisance is not one.
- Confirmed, it holds the Book of Vishanti.
- Elizabeth Olsen has contradicted Feige's initial words, by saying WandaVision was necessary to watch before Dr Strange 2.
- Jossed - it's a major role.
- The Trailer shows a Westview version of Wanda putting her hand on a Scarlet Witch version of herself. While she has learned Astral Projection, this could actually be her and a variant.
- Confirmed.
- Jossed, Gargantos is still a tentacle monster.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Knowing how often the female love interest dies in comics.
- We saw that, it didn't end well.
- Rachel Mcadams was not initially set to reprise her role in the film. However, after Sam Rami replace Scott Erickson as director, Mcadams later signed on to the sequel and provided voiceover work for What If.. This could mean, she may play a pivotal role in the movie. Specially, if it tied back to her variant seen in What If..
- Jossed, there are two Christines, both survive.
- Confirmed, only Mordo survives.
- Confirmed.
- Well, he tries.
- Possible Candidates include:
- Nova
- Superior Iron Man
- Monica Rambeau
- A variant of Maria Rambeau from a universe where she became Captain Marvel instead of Carol Danvers
- Confirmed
- Human Torch
- Captain Universe
- Ms. Marvel
Given what occurred in What If...?, it seems unlikely Strange Supreme became a villain. However, it does seem plausible given some shots in the trailer he is still present-perhaps Sinister Strange is either a variant of Strange Supreme who went mad from isolation or maybe is one that made a Face–Heel Turn for other unclear reasons.
- Confirmed.
- Jossed. The Illuminati's Strange is already dead.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- He is one is from the Original Timeline thought to be wiped out by Wolverine in Days of Future Past, but retconned to him traveling to an Alternate Universe similar to how Time Travel worked in Avengers: Endgame
- He's from the new timeline created by Wolverine in the same movie.
- He's from the Alternate Timeline that Logan takes place in.
- He is the Professor X from the 90s animated series!
- He is a new version of Professor X set in the MCU, with all other versions being retconned as variants.
- It will be a plot twist, revealing either a new villanous variant of Professor X or Mystique posing as the Professor.
- Jossed, he's the one from a specific dimension.
- It is part of a heated argument. That leads to heated confrontation.
- Jossed, if one could call the structure that held the Time Stone the Eye, he wears it but empty.
- Jossed, unless it's one of the briefly visited by him and America.
- Jossed... and considering the MCU is referred to as 616, apparently the Marvel Universe is still unknown in live action.
- Jossed. He's another universe's Professor X.
- Well, he visits an animated dimension.
- One of the dimensions has dinosaurs, so possibly confirmed if not in the Sacred Timeline.
- Jossed.
- Jossed. Even if there is a corpse being revived with the assistance of a Tome of Eldritch Lore.
- Jossed. MCU Wanda is the one lurking on the alternate one, and with some bad motivations.
- Jossed, this one is native to the Illuminati dimension.
- Unclear, that Black Bolt is from an alternate universe.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Heroes
- Nicholas Hammond's Spider-Man
- Hammond even expressed interest in appearing in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
- Peter Hooten's Doctor Strange
- Lou Ferrigno's Hulk
- He could play him physically too to replace Bill Bixby.
- Ed Gale's Howard the Duck
- Rex Smith's Daredevil
- Eric Allan Kramer's Thor
- Dolph Lundgren's Punisher
- Matt Salinger's Captain America
- Wesley Snipes' Blade
- Hugh Jackman's Wolverine
- Some leaks say he isn't in the film and Jackman was clearly vocal in retiring after Logan. But never say never, right?
- Famke Janssen's Jean Grey
- Halle Berry's Storm
- James Marsden's Cyclops
- Kelsey Grammer's Beast
- Shawn Ashmore's Iceman
- Lana Condor's Jubilee
- Anna Paquin's Rogue
- Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler
- He deserves to come back after Executive Meddling screwed his intended return in X-Men: The Last Stand.
- Elliot Page's Kitty Pryde
- Taylor Kitsch's Gambit
- Evan Peters' Quicksilver
- Scarlet Witch could say that he reminds her of Ralph Bohner. Quicksilver then starts laughing at the name.
- Olivia Munn's Psylocke
- Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool
- Reynolds is denying that he will be in the film, but can we trust him? Andrew Garfield kept lying about not being involved in No Way Home, and look how that ended up.
- Morena Baccarin's Vanessa Carlysle
- She isn't a mutant, but what if she has become Copycat since Wade rescued her with his time travel shenanigans?
- Stefan Kapičić's Colossus
- Brianna Hildebrand's Negasonic Teenage Warhead
- Karan Soni's Dopinder
- Yeah, he isn't a mutant, but he could finally shine as a hero here.
- Dafne Keen's X-23
- She got her spin-off cancelled thanks to the Disney/Fox deal, at least bring her back once more?
- Julian Dennison's Firefist
- Josh Brolin's Cable
- Brolin was supposed to reprise the role in cancelled sequels and wanted to play him again. They can make a joke about how much he sounds like Thanos.
- Zazie Beetz's Domino
- Brad Pitt's Vanisher
- Shiori Kutsuna's Yukio
- Ben Affleck's Daredevil
- What if The Flash (2023) isn't the only multiversal film Affleck has been shooting?
- Jennifer Garner's Elektra
- Eric Bana's Hulk
- Thomas Jane's Punisher
- He could even be from the universe of the Spider-Man Trilogy, as Jane's stunt double appeared in Spider-Man 2.
- Ioan Gruffudd's Mr. Fantastic
- Maybe he and Sue are parents now?
- Jessica Alba's Invisible Woman
- Same as Reed?
- Chris Evans' Human Torch
- Evans has stated that he will appear in a further MCU project, but who says he is returning as Captain America? Evans was even considered at one point to reprise his first Marvel role in Deadpool 2.
- Michael Chiklis' Thing
- Perhaps he has married Alicia, just like the unmade third film intended?
- Doug Jones' and Laurence Fishburne's Silver Surfer
- The Stinger of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer did leave the door open for his return in a planned spin-off film that didn't materialize. They can make a joke about how much he sounds like Bill Foster.
- Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider
- Ray Stevenson's Punisher
- Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man
- Miles Teller's Mr. Fantastic
- Perhaps he becomes The Maker?
- Kate Mara's Invisible Woman
- Michael B. Jordan's Human Torch
- They can make a joke about how much he resembles Erik Killmonger.
- Jamie Bell's Thing
- Maybe he has decided to wear pants now?
- Tom Hardy's Venom
- His stay at the MCU was too short, so let's bring him back for round two!
- Jared Leto's Morbius
- Maisie Williams' Wolfsbane
- Blu Hunt's Mirage
- Charlie Heaton's Cannonball
- Henry Zaga's Sunspot
- Anya Taylor-Joy's Magik
- Magik is one of Doctor Strange's friends in the comics and is in fact the Sorceress Supreme of Limbo.
- Jossed. Unlike No Way Home, the only non-MCU variant sharing an actor is Xavier. In fact, considering the existence of Incursions, it's a good thing none of them showed up.
- Nicholas Hammond's Spider-Man
- Villains
- Brian Steele's Dark Overlords
- Stephen Dorff's Deacon Frost
- Donal Logue's Quinn
- Arly Jover's Mercury
- Luke Goss' Jared Nomak
- Thomas Kretschmann's Eli Damaskinos
- They can make a joke about how much he resembles Wolfgang von Strucker.
- Dominic Purcell's Drake
- Ian McKellen's Magneto
- Rebecca Romijn's Mystique
- Ray Park's Toad
- Colin Farrell's Bullseye
- He was left hospitalized at the end of Daredevil (2003), so what if he has been healed and resumed his fight against Daredevil? Maybe he followed him into the multiverse?
- Brian Cox's William Stryker
- Kelly Hu's Deathstrike
- Michael Reid McKay's Jason Stryker
- Nick Nolte's David Banner
- Sam Elliott's General Ross
- Dominic Purcell's Drake
- Julian McMahon's Doctor Doom
- Maybe the evil Doctor Strange variants aren't the only "doctor" villains in this film? This can also resolve his Uncertain Doom in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
- Wes Bentley's Blackheart
- Ciarán Hinds' Mephisto
- Topher Grace's Venom
- Liev Schreiber's Sabretooth
- He was supposed to return in Logan but didn't, so why not allow him to make a comeback?
- Kevin Bacon's Sebastian Shaw
- January Jones' Emma Frost
- Jason Flemyng's Azazel
- Haruyiko Yamanouchi's Silver Samurai
- Svetlana Khodchenkova's Madame Viper
- Dane DeHaan's Green Goblin
- Paul Giamatti's Rhino
- He was rumored to return in Spider-Man: No Way Home but he didn't, so why not bring him back here?
- Peter Dinklage's Bolivar Trask
- Toby Kebbell's Doctor Doom
- Kebbell expressed interest in reprising the role if his Doom joined the MCU. This film's the opportunity!
- Ed Skrein's Ajax
- Oscar Isaac's Apocalypse
- They can make a joke about how much he resembles Moon Knight.
- Richard E. Grant's Zander Rice
- If Loki appears, he can joke about how Rice looks like his Classic variant.
- Boyd Holbrook's Donald Pierce
- Hugh Jackman's X-24
- Riz Ahmed's Carlton Drake/Riot
- Jessica Chastain's Vuk
- Alice Braga's Cecilia Reyes
- Woody Harrelson's Cletus Kasady/Carnage
- Matt Smith's Milo Morbius
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Kraven the Hunter
- Scarlet Witch could say that he reminds her of her brother Quicksilver.
- All Jossed. In fact, considering the existence of Incursions, it's a good thing none of them showed up.
- Shameik Moore's Miles Morales
- Jake Johnson's Spider-Man
- Johnson even said that he would have liked to appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
- John Mulaney's Spider-Ham
- It would be a bit weird to depict him in live-action, but it doesn't hurt trying?
- Kimiko Glenn's SP//dr
- Though who knows how they can reference her anime appearance...
- Nicolas Cage's Spider-Man Noir
- Liev Schreiber's Kingpin
- This is a bit unlikely, as Kingpin was defeated and sent to jail for his actions, but maybe he escapes? His physical immensity could be a bit tricky to depict in live-action, but who knows?
- Even better, if Hailee Steinfeld's Spider-Gwen and Kathryn Hahn's Doctor Octopus appear in the film, a joke could be made that they look like Kate Bishop and Agatha Harkness.
- Or alternatively, the Spider-Verse characters will appear via the Roger Rabbit Effect.
- Jossed. Although there is an animated universe. In fact, considering the existence of Incursions, it's a good thing none of them showed up.
- Jossed.
- I think it would make more sense if that happened in She-Hulk, since Ross is famously a Hulk character.
- Jossed. But She-Hulk does seem like place for it.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed. The Reed Richards introduced is a whole new one.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Maybe how he and Mary Jane have made their relationship work (it has been reported that Kevin Feige wants to bring back Kirsten Dunst after she wasn't available to appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home)?
- If they have any children now?
- If Aunt May ever realized that Peter was Spider-Man like the second film implied?
- If Oscorp's still active after Harry Osborn's death?
- If Flint Marko reunited with his family or not?
- If Peter is still in contact with Curt Connors and Gwen Stacy? They could bring back Dylan Baker and Bryce Dallas Howard once more.
- If Peter still works at the Daily Bugle? He could have replaced Robbie Robertson as one of the Bugle's main editors due to Bill Nunn's real-life passing. And that could allow J. K. Simmons to return as the OG J. Jonah Jameson!
- Jossed.
- Jossed, the dimension where he appears is not the Raimiverse.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- That alternate Christine Palmer who is going to marry in the trailer could very well be a Raimiverse variant and her groom is Defender Strange.
- Where Defender Strange comes from is unknown, but the Christine getting married is the MCU one.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- It sets up many things, but is not a Winter Soldier or Civil War kind of game changer.
- Confirmed, but none of the above answers are correct. The Darkhold is simply a copy of Chthon's spells, so ultimately it does not matter if both versions co-exist or are the same. At the end of the film, all Variants of the Darkhold are destroyed.
- Confirmed!
- Confirmed!
- In a way, as the ones introduced are from an Expendable Alternate Universe, so the ones from the MCU could be appearing.
- Probably not, unless that universe's Ash works as a street vendor.
- When reprising his role as General Ross in Captain America: Civil War, William Hurt did say that he didn't feel that he was reprising the role but playing a new iteration of Ross. Yeah, he may have been referring to the changes to the character, as The Russo Brothers brought him back to make The Incredible Hulk relevant again and remind that it's canon, but still...
- In What If…? (2021), in the episode "What If…? S1E3 "What If… The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?"", when scenes of The Incredible Hulk are reimagined, we get to see Ruffalo's Hulk during the film's events, whereas it was Norton's Hulk in the film. Perhaps an indicator that the events of The Incredible Hulk did happen in the MCU but with Ruffalo's version?
- Granted, Abomination reappears in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, but he does look different than in The Incredible Hulk and can't speak, so maybe the MCU Abomination always looked more reptilian and lost his ability to speak after his transformation?
- Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson never reappeared as Betty Ross and Samuel Sterns in the MCU. The Russos did confirm that Betty was one of Thanos' victims between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, so maybe Tyler's version does exist in the MCU (as evidenced in What If...?), but what about Nelson's Sterns?
- Jossed. The Hulk is never mentioned.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Jossed, he's atually from an Earth that Strange managed to doom.
- Maybe Clagiostro from What If…? (2021) makes an appearance?
- Jossed.
- One of Brian Steele's Dark Overlords
- Ian McKellen's Magneto
- Colin Farrell's Bullseye
- Julian McMahon's Doctor Doom
- Ciarán Hinds' Mephisto
- Jossed.
- Jossed. The Xavier who appears is an entirely different one.
- Jossed. Wolverine never appears or is mentioned.
- Confirmed, and many scenes, even!
- Confirmed!
- Jossed. Dreams and nightmares do play a role in Wanda being the villain.
- Jossed.
- Confirmed, one scene shows a flashback to America's childhood.
- Unclear, though he does mention Spider-Man.
- Jossed.
- Jossed.
- Mixed. The Mordo variant in the movie confronts Strange, but more for past experience as it's not the MCU's one. However. in a case of What Could Have Been,[[spoiler: MCU Mordo was originally going to attempt to kill Wanda at the start of the movie. But Wanda turns the tables, and decapitate Mordo (and she later show Mordo's head to Strange!!!)
- Confirmed.
- Partially Confirmed. While the verdict is still out on whether Krasinski will play the official MCU Reed Richards, Sam Ramini confirmed that the variant casting of was deliberate Fanservice.
- The film will revealed to be a Xanatos Gambit by Kang the Conqueror. Even though he's seemingly all-powerful, even he can't take down all the Multiverse's heroes. So he set up Wanda Maximoff up as his pawn to take most of the out, leaving many worlds softened for an invasion.
- Jossed.
- The Sinister Six will appear in The Stinger.
- Jossed.
- Kang the Conqueror will appear in The Stinger.
- Jossed.
- The MCU was previously referred to as Universe #199999, however the Christine from Universe #838 refers to Strange being part of Universe #616. This causes a continuity issue, as #616 is the main universe for the Comics.
- There being a multiverse doesn't mean every single iteration of a work from that franchise has to be part of the same multiverse. The fact the MCU was left alone from events such as the incursions and Secret Wars (and if those events are ever adapted, it's obvious that the MCU universe will be the one to stay existing at the end) means it was always a separate continuity in its entirety.
- Or it'll be confirmed that while the rest of the Marvel multiverse calls the MCU Earth-199999, it's referred to as Earth-616 within the MCU's multiverse.
- Or it could be explained that Palmer's team simply got the numbering wrong.
- Or it's just a retcon, plain and simple as that.
- Or - like MCU-America Chavez not having any counterparts, or the MCU-Darkhold being expunged from all universes - it's a way for the studio to decisively proclaim, now that they're going all-in on the multiverse concept, that the MCU isn't merely just another alternate universe existing alongside the comics, but that it's a totally separate continuity on all levels. So please give it a rest complaining when we do something different from the comic books, people!
- Or, everyone from different universes counts universes differently.
- Perhaps he learns of the incursion and teams up with an eldritch threat (Nightmare or maybe even Chthon) to battle against Strange and Clea.
- Why would he? Unlike Wanda, he doesn’t have any reason to go search for a couple of boys he doesn’t know.
- This would fit with how the comics version of West was trained at Kamar-Taj and later became an enemy of Strange; considering that West is implicitly bitter at how Strange claims that his actions were supposedly the only way to save the universe, Mordo could play on those feelings to convince West to join him.
- Since Wanda's dead Agatha will be no longer be trapped.
- Never Found the Body, who says she's actually dead?
- Even if Wanda's alive, it's possible that the spell she cast on Agatha will weaken enough for her to break free. It could even be the start of House of Harkness.
- Either Mickey was never created or their roles in history are the opposite than the ones in our world.
- Considering that she was tapping the power of the Darkhold, she could have just been "displaced" rather than outright crushed.
- On a meta level, recent storylines such as her use of the Darkhold and the Trial of Magneto could be intended to set a precedent for Wanda to be tainted by the Darkhold's influence and be subsequently redeemed of her sins through some great heroic act.
- It's possible that, much like Hulk, the Scarlet Witch actually isn't allowed to die.
- Even if the mainstream version doesn't return, the 838 variant may return. Or a variant from yet another universe can appear.
- It's possible that Chthon kidnapped Wanda in the last second, leading to the 616 Billy and Tommy Maximoff (who are reborn in the same way as their comic counterparts) attempting to rescue her in a future movie. That movie can be the one giving birth to the Young Avengers team.
- The comment about them charting in the 60s seemed to be referring to musical charts and might have just been because the name "Fantastic Four" reminded him of the Fab Four.
- As mentioned in the main page, it's more likely a reference to the lesser-known 60's soul band also named The Fantastic Four.
- Also Professor X is the only member of the Illuminati Strange doesn't snark at. Maybe he knows/knew ST Professor X or at the very least his reputation, and that's why he knows better than to snark at him. Or because he looks a lot like Patrick Stewart.
- That sounds way too complicated to really work out. The film already says that Wanda was corrupted from using the Darkhold. And how would Agatha even be able to do the switch? While she could go to Earth-838 via Dreamwalking (which she would know about, having used the Darkhold before Wanda), she wouldn’t actually be able to take anything from there back to her universe. That was why Wanda was trying to get America’s powers in the first place.
- Alternatively, after Maria’s mysterious disappearance, Carol took it upon herself to raise a now-orphaned Monica.
- She has a very particular African accent to her English that recalls the citizens of Wakanda. Her self-sacrifical heroism for a relative bit character is also very in line with how a Dora would behave in protecting her leader. There are a number of reasonable possibilities as to what she may have been doing at Kamar-Taj as well:
- In the five-year period of the Snap/Blip/Decimation, Avengers: Endgame makes it apparent that the ranks of the sorcerers grew significantly, presumably with many of those left behind seeking purpose or answers at Kamar-Taj. She could well have been one of those people.
- She could be there as an envoy by mutual agreement of Kamar-Taj and Wakanda after the battle with Thanos.
- She may have left in the wake of whatever took place in-universe that killed T'Challa, who is all but confirmed to have died before the events of the upcoming Black Panther sequel.
- The demon (or whatever) that created the book forsaw that a Scarlet Witch would appear in one of the universes, and that a child unique among the universes with great power would also appear. It created temples across the multiverses inscribed with spells that would become each universes version of the Darkhold.
- Every universe's Wanda has the potential to become the Scarlet Witch, but 616 Wanda was the first one to get hold of the Darkhold and be vulerable to it's influences.
- Others, like Strange, could use and be corrupted by the Darkhold, but the power behind it was specifically waiting for a Scarlet Witch Wanda to use it and end up coming to the temple it created to fufill the prophecy of her taking over the universes.
- If Wanda had succeded in draining America's powers in the temple, the demon would have taken over. Even though Wanda's only wish was to be with her children again, it would have corrupted her and used her to conquer the multiverse.
- The temple connects directly to the source of the Darkhold's power across all multiverses, which is why Wanda was able to destroy them all in the end.
- Or maybe it was Karl Mordo who manipulated Wanda into getting ahold (no pun intended) of the Darkhold. He did say at the end of the first movie that there were "too many sorcerers."
- The spells were carved by Chthon in the temple from which the Scarlet Witch was supposed to rule the multiverse. Everything else the Darkhold and its copies have done is collateral damage. The real point was to give Wanda Maximov absolute cosmic power with a side dose of insanity.
- A potentially related Easter Egg was spotted during the filmimg of Season 2 of Loki (2021). A movie poster teases a film called the "Zaniac", which is a references to the bloodthirsty villain of the same name in the comics. Zaniac is an entity who possess people and uses them as a puppets to commit murder. Could it be possible that Wanda became possessed by a version of the Zaniac after she used the Darkhold?
- Someone on the writing staff either agreed with the general public opinion regarding the show, or disliked dhow it was basically Ike Perlmutter's attempt to "replace" the X-Men, or possibly both, and decided to make their opinion on the matter known by killing off Black Bolt.
- Doctor Strange in the Dark Dimension: The mid-credits scene shows Clea meeting Strange and opening a portal to the Dark Dimension, so it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch for this to be the third film’s title.
- Doctor Strange in the Nation of Nightmares: Fans have been clamoring for Nightmare to appear for a good while now, so just thought I'd put it out there.
Professor X didn't underestimate Wanda as much as assume that she wouldn't hurt him. In their universe, Wanda was raised by Erik Lehnsherr and Magda Maximoff and even if Erik went full villain Magneto at some point, she still saw Charles as an uncle figure, she probably attended his school too. He didn't realize main Wanda hasn't even met Magneto yet, and has no attachment to either of them.
In addition to her prodigious natural power, at the end she is shown training as a student at Kamar-Taj, with her exhibiting similar learning difficulties as Strange did when he began his training, thereby foreshadowing her path being similar to that of Strange.
- Mordo: We could learn about the offscreen clashes he's had with Strange. His daughter Astrid could be introduced as his new ally in his crusade against Strange.
- Chthon: He could return to try and create a new Darkhold, putting him in conflict with Strange.
- Nightmare: He was rumored for Multiverse of Madness but didn't appear. Perhaps he's being saved for the future?
- Dormammu: The original could return (and break his bargain with Strange) or a variant of him could be introduced. Either way he'll be the flaming headed humanoid monster from the comics this time around.
- Barbara Robb/Dream Weaver: A villainess who can alter reality could make for a decent opponent for Strange and Clea.
- Nicodemus West: As suggested above.
- The Imperator: A multiversal madman out to destroy all magic? That'd definitely be someone who'd go after Strange.
- Umar: Clea's mother who rules the Dark Dimension.
- He was either a) supposed to kill her - eliminating a threat to Kang's dimensional supremacy - or b) have Christine help him punch his way out of an already decayed universe without its help. Now that he's been contaminated by the Darkhold 616 has gone dangerously Off the Rails.
- Alternatively, the events of the movie weren't supposed to happen, as the TVA made sure to prevent anything from diverging from the Sacred Timeline. But following the events of Loki, it's clear that whatever they intended for the ST was thrown way off course thanks to the multiverse.
- Josh Trank's Fantastic Four (2015)
- Howard the Duck
- Ang Lee's Hulk
- Captain America (1990)
- Daredevil (2003)/Elektra
- Helstrom
- Trouble (Marvel Comics)
- Sinister Strange's universe.
- The Punisher (1989)
- Man-Thing
- Earth-89521
- Earth-29929
- Inhumans, thereby rendering it non-canon to the MCU.
- MCU versions of other members of the group had already appeared, as Cassie Lang, Kid Loki, Eli Bradley and Kate Bishop.
- Adding onto this, how can Kid Loki join the team when he's still stuck in the Void, which is at the end of time itself? America can create portals anywhere across the multiverse, so it isn't impossible to assume she can do the same with time.
- Alternatively, Kid Loki and the others stuck in the void can be rescued by Adult Loki, who has access to TVA's resources.
- Yet another possibility involves one of the group founders, Iron Lad, who's a time traveller. Although the character hasn't appeared in the MCU yet, he's a younger version of Kang in the comics, and a variant of Kang, He Who Remains, had already appeared in Loki, while the "main" Kang is confirmed to be in the next Ant-Man film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Given that the end of Loki caused the reemerging of Kang's variants, it's possible that Iron Lad is one of them and rescues Kid Loki to help in the fight against his evil self/selves.
He'll say "In the grand calculus of the Multiverse, my sacrifice means infinitely more than my life" right before performing a Heroic Sacrifice.
Wanda is alive and well get a redemption arc through breaking the cycle of grief and revenge.She killed Reed Richards, arguably the weakest member of his family. Mrs. Fantastic is, in many continuities, by far the most powerful of the four, with her force fields being absolute, completely customizable, and able to be conjured anywhere, even inside an opponent's body for an instant kill.Then you have Franklin, their son, who is to the Scarlet Witch what she is to a random goober at Kamar-Taj. He is a reality warper of absurd strength. Him versus non-darkhollow Wanda is not a fight. It's pest control.They'll be gunning after Wanda with vengeance and the full backing of their universe. Wanda's quest will be getting them to take her peacefully into custody rather than killing her and continuing the cycle of grief.
- Kaecilius and his zealots could return, Kaecilius serving as a Darth Vader Shout-Out with his burnt-out appearance and magical experience and might be given an outfit that has nods to Darth Vader. Alternatively, Kaecilius could be a nod to Darth Sion as a "Lord of Pain". After all, Kaecilius and his followers got pulled into the Dark Dimension, opening the possibility that they may be sent back somehow to make up for failing the first time.
- Originally 616 Mordo was slated to appear in the beginning of the film, as one of Wanda's early victims. It was cut for unknown reasons, but the dramatic reveal of Wanda's villianous turn and Mordo's overall arc are likely factors.
- Dr. Strange's car accident was even worse, injuring his body so badly, he sought the help of Tony Stark. Perhaps he managed his money better just in case of an emergency like this too. Tony rebuilds Dr. Strange into Cyber Strange, but Dr. Strange wants to feel even more alive, so still seeks out the Ancient One to learn magic and regain more of his senses in his cyber body in a magical sense. The success of Dr. Strange's cybernetics become a marvel for medical research, and Dr. Strange's relationship with Tony Stark starts off on better terms thanks to Tony saving Dr. Strange's life.
- Dr. Strange may learn how to perform enchantment, infusing magical properties into his armor and augmenting his capabilites over time.
- A universe where there's a Cyber Thanos, because he could be even more formidable with his own spin on an Iron Man suit.
- A universe with a RoboCop variant on the Avengers:
- The universe(s) is lighter and softer to fit the tone of the MCU overall and still has plenty of satire to go around. Alex Murphy would likely have upgrades by Stark Industries and primarily use related weaponry. It might be a way to have an Author's Saving Throw to improve upon RoboCop (2014) and build upon that film's setting. Peter Weller's RoboCop could be in the same crossover simultaneously, with him interacting with Joel Kinnaman's RoboCop and both commenting on each other's machinery.
- The ED-209 and EM-208 could very well have been enhanced with the technology from Ultron and been a large enough success to serve as units in the Infinity War. These iterations don't have the problem of attacking surrendering targets or targets of insufficient threat, but have more light-hearted amusing quirks to fit the MCU tone.
- A universe where people age at varying rates, with some staying the same age for years. In other words, a universe that operates on Comic-Book Time.
- A universe where Christine was the one who got injured in a car accident, going to Kamar-Taj to seek treatment.
- A universe where the Avengers, the Spider-people, the X-Men, and Fantastic Four all coexist, but is differentiated from 838 by otherwise being identical to 616, no reverse traffic lights, backstory machines, or trees everywhere. In other words, if Marvel never sold the movie rights to Sony and Fox to begin with.
- C'mon...just look at Captain Carter's jetpack. It looks like an upgraded version of the Cirrus X3 rocket pack from the 1991 film.
- This is Just for Fun, but it brings up some Fridge Horror regarding the episode "Bloom and Gloom" where Apple Bloom has dreams where her friends and family turn against her.
- Peter Parker ended up calling himself "The Human Spider". The other variants tease him about this, with Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man really finding it amusing.
- Doctor Octopus really is called Dr. Strange, leading to confusion when Stephen Strange is present in some way.
- There is a variant of the Avengers called The Pre-vengers, who bend the rules about heroes to more effectively fight Thanos, leading to the team being a group of anti-heroes.
- Yes, there is Earth-1218.