Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Gets New Writer from Loki Disney+ Series (UPDATED)

After Scott Derrickson quit Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, it seemed Marvel Studios just needed to find a new director. However, it appears that the problems with the film may extend beyond just the hunt for a new director. A new report says that Marvel Studios is looking to rework the script for Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness and they are hiring a new writer to do it. Jade Bartlett wrote the first script for the film, but The Hollywood Reporter says Loki head writer Michael Waldron will rewrite. It’s not clear if Waldron will redo the script from soup to nuts, or if he’s just polishing some scenes where Derrickson and Kevin Feige hit friction.

Image via screengrab

When Feige announced Phase 4 of the MCU at Comic-Con, the next Doctor Strange film was to be Marvel’s first proper horror film. Yet, as time went on, Feige said it was still an MCU film but with scary sequences. Now, with a new writer working on it, one has to wonder what about Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness will be the same when it finally does start filming.

While this move may suggest trouble for Doctor Strange, it does signal something good for Marvel Studios. By tapping Waldron for these rewrites, it’s more proof that Marvel will use their television production group as a breeding ground for talent. Megan McDonnell, a writer on WandaVision will write Captain Marvel 2. Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel are the two biggest heroes to watch leading into Phases 5 and 6. That Sam Raimi might be returning to Marvel for Doctor Strange is a big deal, too. Yet, it seems that Marvel wants to continue the tradition of trusting veritable unknowns to handle their big properties.

Update: No Script Was Ever Turned In

Writer C. Robert Cargill revealed on Twitter that he and Scott Derrickson never even completed a script for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so it appears that the new writer and director will be starting from scratch.

Since it keeps coming up in news stories, it's worth noting that Scott and I never had the opportunity to write a draft of MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, so whatever they are working with now isn't derivative of our work.

I am of course very excited to see where they take Stephen next.

— C. Robert Cargill (@Massawyrm) February 8, 2020

Featured image via Marvel Studios

Joshua M. Patton is a father, veteran, and writer living in Pittsburgh, PA. The first books he read on his own were comics, and he's loved the medium ever since. He is the greatest star-pilot in the galaxy, a cunning warrior, and a good friend. His book "What I Learned: Stories, Essays, and More" is available in print from Amazon and from all electronic booksellers.