In an interview for the May 2021 print edition of Rolling Stone (via /Film), Feige confirmed that Doctor Strange was in the works to include in the “WandaVision” finale. Those buzzy commercial breaks that aired during “WandaVision” episodes had been originally set up to serve as coded messages Wanda was sending to Doctor Strange as he “attempted to break through her sitcom fabrication.” Doctor Strange was going to arrive in the finale, and “Marvel had even finalized a deal with Cumberbatch to appear in the season’s final episode.” The plan got nixed so that “WandaVision” could stand on its own and to also avoid a male character arriving to save the day and explain Wanda’s powers to her.
“Some people might say, ‘Oh, it would’ve been so cool to see Doctor Strange,’” Feige said. “But it would have taken away from Wanda. We didn’t want the end of the show to be commoditized to go to the next movie — here’s the white guy, ‘Let me show you how power works.’” The “WandaVision” finale found Wanda coming into her own as the Scarlet Witch without the help of any character having to save her or explain her powers, male or female (although she did indirectly learn a few tricks from Agatha Harkness, but that was on her own accord). The series ended with Wanda in possession of the Darkhold book and training herself in all things magic. “WandaVision” is now streaming on Disney +. Cumberbatch and Olsen can be seen in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” when it opens in theaters March 25, 2022. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
