The plot of Doctor Strange 3 has finally come to light, along with the exciting news about its director. However, while some of the details are straightforward, I was expecting a bit more complexity. The last time we saw Doctor Strange, he had developed a third eye and was accompanied by Clea, a new character, as they ventured into the mysteries of Incursion. Now, the next chapter in his story begins to unfold.

Doctor Strange’s Journey So Far

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a wild ride, but it set the stage for even more problems facing Doctor Strange, particularly those tied to the Multiverse. The Darkhold’s use led to the triggering of an Incursion and the practice of Dreamwalking. While Doctor Strange resolved the immediate issues with the Darkhold and Dreamwalking, the Incursion remains unresolved. It’s this pressing threat that the third movie will focus on.

This week, Production Weekly—a highly reputable source that tracks all major film and TV projects in development—released a detailed list that included Doctor Strange 3. This list offers us some fascinating details about the upcoming film. But before we dive into the spoilers, let’s address how reliable this information is.

The Credibility of Production Weekly

Production Weekly is widely regarded as a trusted publication that provides insights into Hollywood productions. From casting and crew listings to writer details, it gives an overview of projects at early stages. However, it’s important to note that details can change as productions evolve, including casting or even directors. That said, it’s a great resource for industry insiders, so the information it provides carries weight.

Major Players and Director Confirmed

Now, let’s dig into the Doctor Strange 3 details. Sam Raimi is listed as the director, which will be good news for fans who appreciated his vision in Multiverse of Madness. Benedict Cumberbatch is back as Doctor Strange, and Charlize Theron is also returning as Clea, which ties in with the cliffhanger ending of the last movie, where the two characters set out to confront the Incursion. But the real bombshell? Denzel Washington’s name has surfaced, potentially for the role of Dormammu—a massive piece of casting news!

The Plot: The Black Priests and Incursions

The plot of Doctor Strange 3 appears to focus heavily on Incursions and introduces a mysterious multiversal organization known as the Black Priests. For those unfamiliar, Clea—Charlize Theron’s character—is a member of this organization, and their headquarters are in a ruined universe between two dead universes, both of which were destroyed by an Incursion.

The Black Priests are tasked with saving the multiverse, and Doctor Strange finds himself drawn into their mission. It’s revealed that the multiverse is collapsing due to the number of Incursions occurring across its vast expanse, with one of these Incursions triggered by none other than Doctor Strange himself.

Comic book fans will recognize this storyline as a direct nod to Marvel’s Time Runs Out arc, where the concept of Incursions played a pivotal role ahead of the 2015 Secret Wars event. The idea of multiversal collapse, as well as Doctor Strange’s involvement in fixing it, makes this a perfect setup for Avengers: Secret Wars.

Comic Roots: Time Runs Out and the Black Priests

For fans of the comics, the mention of the Black Priests will feel familiar. In the Time Runs Out storyline, Doctor Strange is initially seen as a threat, only to later become instrumental in stabilizing the multiverse. The inclusion of the Black Priests in Doctor Strange 3 suggests that Marvel is moving closer to bringing this epic storyline to the big screen.

The Black Priests were introduced in New Avengers Volume 3, where Doctor Strange used dark magic to defeat the greatest heroes of another Earth—the Great Society—to save his own Earth-616. This grim act horrified his fellow heroes, and after the Incursion was stopped, Strange left Earth-616 and joined the Black Priests, eventually becoming their leader and taking on the title “Eye of Eyes.”

The Role of the Black Swans

In addition to the Black Priests, the storyline also involves the Black Swans, an all-female group devoted to Rabum Alal, a god they believe seeks the destruction of the multiverse. The Black Swans’ hideout is in the Library of Worlds, which was created by the Beyonders. Doctor Strange’s Black Priests eventually confront the Black Swans at this Library, and it’s here that Strange discovers the true identity of Rabum Alal—Doctor Doom.

Yes, you heard that right—Doctor Doom was manipulating the Black Swans all along. His endgame, however, wasn’t to destroy the multiverse but to save it. This revelation could have massive implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it moves toward Avengers: Secret Wars, where Doom is expected to play a central role.

Setting the Stage for Avengers: Secret Wars

With the introduction of the Black Priests, Marvel is clearly laying the groundwork for Secret Wars. It seems likely that Doctor Strange 3 will serve as a crucial stepping stone, setting up many of the events that will culminate in the multiversal showdown. Just as the Time Runs Out comic arc wove together multiple teams and plots, the MCU is bringing together various storylines from its movies to build toward a similar scale.

While Doctor Strange 3 will introduce the Black Priests, there are also multiversal Avengers, the Black Swans, Doctor Doom, and even the Illuminati—all of whom have their part to play in the multiverse saga. The MCU’s version of Time Runs Out will likely unfold across several Phase 6 projects, including Avengers: Doom’s Day, and tie directly into Secret Wars.

Denzel Washington as Dormammu?

Now, let’s talk about Denzel Washington. His name has been mentioned for the role of Dormammu, the powerful villain last seen in the first Doctor Strange film. At the end of Multiverse of Madness, Clea opens a portal to what seems to be the Dark Dimension, hinting at Dormammu’s return.

If Dormammu does face Doctor Strange again, the battle will be very different. Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone, which he used to trap Dormammu in a time loop in the first movie. However, he now has knowledge of the Darkhold, which could change the dynamics of their encounter.

Will we finally see Dormammu in a more physical form? In the first film, Dormammu’s appearance was more abstract, with Benedict Cumberbatch providing the voice. If Denzel Washington is taking on the role, we could be in for a very different interpretation of the character.

Sam Raimi’s Return as Director

Lastly, Sam Raimi’s potential return as director for Doctor Strange 3 is an exciting development. Raimi’s direction was a significant factor in holding Multiverse of Madness together, and bringing him back to helm the sequel could ensure consistency in tone and style.

Conclusion

In summary, Doctor Strange 3 is shaping up to be a key chapter in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, directly setting the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars. With the introduction of the Black Priests, the deepening of the Incursion storyline, and the possible return of Dormammu, there’s a lot to look forward to. Whether it’s the introduction of Doctor Doom or the battle to stabilize the multiverse, this movie could be one of the most important pieces leading up to Secret Wars.