Here's What Those Post-Credit Scenes in 'Doctor Strange' Mean (Including That Epic Cameo)
Massive spoilers ahead for Marvel's Doctor Strange.
"Doctor Strange will return." It's a title card we've come to expect at the tail end of every Marvel movie -- Iron Man, The Avengers, Ant-Man, they all returned. However, if the post-credits scene immediately following Doctor Strange is any indication, the future Sorcerer Supreme will be back much sooner than expected.
And that's just the first scene. (Yes, there are two, so make sure you stay in your seat until the very end.) Below, we break down what they mean for Doctor Strange and the future of the MCU.
The Mid-Credits Scene
What Happens: "Tea?" Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) asks as the camera turns to reveal Thor (Chris Hemsworth) seated across from him at the Sanctum Sanctorum. The God of Thunder quips, "I don't drink tea."
There's a fun little gag where Thor drinks from a magically refilling stein of beer as Strange explains that he now keeps a list of threats and Loki's name is on it. Strange questions why Thor would bring Loki to New York City. "It's complicated. Family drama," Thor quips, before revealing that they are looking for Odin.
Strange: "So, if you find Odin, you'll take Loki and return to Asgard promptly?"
Thor: "Yes. Promptly."
Strange: "Great. I'll help you."
What It Means: This one requires you think back all the way back to Thor: The Dark World, when Loki (Tom Hiddleston) seemingly sacrificed himself for his brother only to return very much alive and impersonating King Odin on his throne. From Hemsworth's Instagram, we already knew that Thor: Ragnarok would take the brothers to NYC:
Now we know why. And as fun as it was to see Cumberbatch and Hemsworth in their first scene together, it wasn't a total surprise: Hemsworth was photographed on the Ragnarok set holding a business card that read "177A Bleecker St.," the address of Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. (Set pictures also gave a first look at Sir Anthony Hopkins as Odin. That's an additional Ragnarok spoiler, though, so click here.)
As for Strange, Cumberbatch has already confirmed he will appear in Avengers: Infinity Wars in 2018, but it seems he will pop up a full year before that. Director Scott Derrickson confirmed to ET that this scene was shot by Taika Waititi, which likely means it is actually footage from Thor: Ragnarok, in the same way Marvel previewed Captain America: Civil War during the credits of Ant-Man.
The End-Credits Scene
What Happens: Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a fellow student of the Ancient One who served as an ally to Strange in his battles against Kaecilius and then Dormammu, began to question his faith in the mystic arts at the end of the movie, but by the time the credits are finished rolling, he's full-on gone to the dark side.
Mordo pays a visit to Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt), the man who first inspired Stephen Strange's quest to find Kamar-Taj, and proceeds to stick his hand inside Pangborn and take his powers. Mordo then delivers his first villainous monologue about perverting power and the natural order.
Pangborn: "Why are you doing this?"
Mordo: "I finally figured out the problem: too many sorcerers."
What It Means:Doctor Strange didn't just serve as an origin story for the titular surgeon-cum-sorcerer, but for Mordo as well. In the comics, he goes by Baron Mordo and, fun fact! He's from Transylvania! While that's all been rejiggered for his cinematic counterpart, the comic Mordo is one of Strange's most well-known foes, and it appears that will be the case onscreen, too. It's worth noting that in the comics, Mordo is a frequent ally of Dormammu, so perhaps we haven't seen the last of the ruler of the dark dimension.
Either way, the big bad has now been established for Doctor Strange 2: Stranger Things.