A new promotional spot for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features a scene previously included in past trailers, but now omits cast member Rachel McAdams.
The scene in question had previously featured Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange looking through a multiversal portal, flanked by America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, and McAdams’ character Christine Palmer. As seen in the new trailer, though, McAdams’ character has been digitally removed. The reason for the character’s removal from the latest spot is unclear.
Dr. Christine Palmer was a fellow surgeon and former love interest of Dr. Stephen Strange, as seen in 2016’s Doctor Strange. Her role in the upcoming sequel, though, appears to be significantly different. In the film’s first full-length trailer, Palmer is seen working inside some kind of detention facility, and is standing alongside an Ultron drone. The drone would indicate the facility is within the headquarters of the mysterious Illuminati cabal, who appear to take Strange and Chavez prisoner.
It’s also unclear as to whether this incarnation of Palmer is the same as that seen in Doctor Strange, or if this is a multiversal variant of the character. The digital removal of Palmer from the scene could indicate her possible demise — a more likely scenario if the character is indeed a variant.
McAdams also voiced the character in the What If… ? episode “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” In the episode, Palmer is killed in a car accident, and Strange tampers with the fabric of time by going back in time to absorb the powers of multiple mystical entities to try and gain the power to undo her death. Corrupted by the mystical energies now at his disposal, this evil “Strange Supreme” saves Palmer, but creates a time paradox in doing so that ultimately destroys that universe, save for a piece of it that Strange preserves in order to survive.
It’s not the first time Marvel Studios has digitally altered its trailers prior to a film’s release. The trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home removed via CGI the appearances of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man characters to keep their roles under wraps prior to the film’s release. However, it’s unusual for one scene to be so significantly modified in different promotional spots.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters May 6.
Source: The Direct
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