'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' Set to Be MCU's First Horror Movie

Marvel’s highly-anticipated Hall H Panel was held yesterday at San Diego Comic-Con, and in true MCU spirit, it came with a few exciting surprises--to put it mildly.

Along with all the big superhero movie announcements like Black Widow and The Eternals, the studio shocked fans when it was revealed they would be trying their hand at a horror movie in the coming Phase 4.

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Just announced at SDCC 2019, Marvel Studios’ "DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS" with Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen. Scott Derrickson returns as director. In theaters May 7, 2021. #DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness

A post shared by Comic-Con International (@sdcc_2019) on Jul 20, 2019 at 7:44pm PDT

Bloody Disgusting reports that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the sequel to the 2016 film, will play up “the gothic, the horror,” as director Scott Derrickson stated at the panel. The website also notes that this won't be Derrickson's first time taking on a horror project, having co-written and directed both Sinister (2012) and The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005).

Derrickson explained that the scary sequel will lead Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, to “dark and damaging places.” It was also confirmed that Elizabeth Olsen, reprising her role as Scarlet Witch, is coming along for the ride as a co-star.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to be released on May 7, 2021.