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Director Sam Raimi reveals that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has 35 minutes of deleted scenes.
With all the possibilities of the multiverse, we knew that Sam Raimi was filming until the last minute. Marvel Studios even extended his reshoots for a couple of months to accommodate what he needed. Even then the director didn’t know if it was enough.
The deletion of scenes is inevitable with any movie. Any filmmaker goes through this. Even the recent Matt Reeves’ The Batman had to delete a scene with the Joker. It didn’t add to the story. Directors and studios have to remove scenes to stay focused.
35 Minutes Cut From Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange 2 Could Reveal More Cameos
Image: Getty Images
In a new interview, Sam Raimi acknowledged the missing footage. What will Disney do with them? Sam Raimi stated:
I’m trying to remember what Marvel is including in the deleted scenes. It’s really going to be their decision, but I know that there are at least two or three deleted scenes that will be included. I don’t know the full extent of them though.
However, there is an elephant in the room. Unfortunately, Sam Raimi didn’t discuss it. Then again, perhaps the reporter didn’t ask him. Fans are puzzled by the missing cameos. After all, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness blew up the rumor pipeline.
Specifically, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness leaked enough gossip to fill a multiverse. Where’s Wolverine? Balder the Brave? Ghost Rider?
Where’s Waldo?
Seriously, Mephisto didn’t show up again. Are they in the lost ark of snipped scenes? Or perhaps they didn’t survive script drafts. It happens. Nevertheless, The Raimi Cut exists in some form. It’s long. In fact, even Sam Raimi can’t recall the exact running time. Sam Raimi admitted:
Well, the first cut was I actually don’t remember the length of it. It was probably like two hours and 40 minutes, and it slowly came down even though we did the reshoots. We took out material even though the reshoots went in. So, it slowly got down to about two hours and five minutes is the total.
35 Minutes Cut From Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange 2 Could Reveal More Cameos
Image: Marvel Studios
Originally, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ran for two hour and 40 minutes. The version in theaters is just two hours and five minutes.
Restore The Raimi Cut?
Expect Disney Plus to unleash that beast.
Reshoots add material or stitch sections that feel too disjointed. Sometimes even removing an entire story arc that may have benefited a character. Look at what happened in 2017’s Justice League. Joss Whedon butchered critical moments for Cyborg, Superman and The Flash.
However, this isn’t the same situation. Indeed, critics and audiences have certified Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as “fresh.” Whedon’s version of Justice League was an atrocity exhibition
So, we wonder, what are the deleted scenes? There are 35 minutes or more of material out there in Marvel Studios’ vault.
Somewhere, Mephisto is smiling. Or maybe laughing at us all for continuing to search for him.