How to Watch 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' and Which Marvel Titles to Stream in Advance
Marvel fans, get ready. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Rachel McAdams, hits theaters Friday, May 6, and, judging by the previews it looks like we're in for a maddening ride.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts so many characters and story threads that a full-blown exploration of the multiverse seems poised to confuse things big time, and the Doctor Strange sequel is no exception.
Get Tickets for Doctor Strange
To catch up on the storylines so that you're fully ready to watch the newest Doctor Strange movie, keep reading to find out which Marvel movies and series you should stream beforehand.
*Spoilers ahead, proceed with caution*
Doctor Strange
What better movie to watch before the sequel than the first Doctor Strange film. The 2016 movie, available to stream now on Disney+, tells the story of Stephen Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch), a brilliant, but self-involved neurosurgeon who loses everything after his hands are damaged in a car accident. On a quest to heal his injuries, Strange travels to Nepal to study mystic arts and unlocks his true potential as a magician. It is in this first Doctor Strange film that we see Strange begin his journey to becoming a hero worthy of the Avengers. Rachel McAdams and Chiwetel Ejiofor co-star.
WandaVision
Marvel's first official canonical TV series definitely deserves a binge watch before Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, because it looks like Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff will be a prominent player in the new movie. In WandaVision, streaming exclusively on Disney+, Wanda and her partner, Vision (played by Paul Bettany), work their way through decades' worth of TV-sitcom tropes as they raise twin boys in a suburban paradise. But as each episode plays out, Wanda and those around her begin to notice that everything is not what it seems.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Released in 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up right after the events of 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home. Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland) has been framed for murder and had his real identity exposed to the world. Peter asks Doctor Strange to cast a spell that will make everyone in the universe forget that he's Spider-Man, but the spell goes awry. Suddenly, iconic characters — and heroes — from the pre-MCU Spider-Man movies pop up. No Way Home is still playing in theaters. It's also available to buy or rent on Amazon's Prime Video.
Captain America: The First Avenger
In late April, a new TV commercial for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness featured a flash of Peggy Carter's Union Jack shield from the comics (and a certain episode of What If...?). The ad fueled speculation that the Carter character will play a role in the new film. So before you go see Multiverse of Madness, it might be a good idea to refresh your memory on Peggy Carter. A good place to start is Captain America: The First Avenger. The 2011 film marks the first MCU appearance of Carter (played by Hayley Atwell) — and, yes, also Captain America (played by Chris Evans). Captain America: The First Avenger is now available to stream on Disney+.
What If...?
Another streaming stop in your Peggy Carter education should be the animated MCU anthology series, What If...? The show debuted exclusively on Disney+ in 2021. The first episode is called What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?, and the series retells well-known moments in MCU history with some major twists. The first season of What If...? is available to stream now on Disney+.
Want even more Peggy Carter? Check out the 2015-2016 series, Agent Carter, and the 2013 short, Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter, both available to stream on Disney+.
Watch Agent Carter
Watch Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter
If you're still not sure what to stream next, we've got ideas for that, too! Check out the rest of our streaming guides to find out what’s new on Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and more.
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