DOCTOR STRANGE Writer Teases Sequel’s Villain and Baron Mordo’s Role

Despite the success of Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange, we’ve had very little news on a potential sequel. Director Scott Derrickson is reportedly attached to return, while the Sorcerer Supreme is playing a key role in Avengers: Infinity War this year. Now, we have an idea of where the first film’s writer and director want to go.

Appearing at a Doctor Strange screening in Austin, Texas (via MovieWeb), screenwriter C. Robert Cargill talks about his ideas for a sequel. He says that, if he and Derrickson make the sequel, they want to have Nightmare as the villain. In the comics, Nightmare is one of Doctor Strange’s biggest enemies, serving as the ruler of the Dream Dimension. His powers include drawing energy from the subconscious minds of dreaming individuals.

Of course, Doctor Strange set up Baron Mordo to be a major antagonist in the franchise’s future. Fortunately, Cargill says that he would still be involved with the sequel, including whatever Nightmare is up to. Cargill also reveals what attracted Chiwetel Ejiofor to the role. “For those of you who have ever read the comics, you know that Baron Mordo has a very particular arc, and that’s something we discussed with Chiwetel while working on the first movie. And part of the reason Chiwetel wanted to play Mordo was because he has a definitive ending as a character and it’s such a fascinating ending. And I do know that whether we’re attached or not, that Marvel plans on working towards that ending and fully realizing Mordo as more than just a cardboard cutout villain, but actually taking him to kind of Loki levels of awesomeness. That’s the goal with him.”

While Marvel has been criticized in the past for underwhelming villains, the studio has been putting more effort into making them work. In the past year alone, we’ve had Michael Keaton’s Vulture, Cate Blanchett’s Hela, and Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger (possibly the best MCU villain yet). Then, there’s Thanos in the next two Avengers films. So, it’s great to hear that Marvel has similar intentions with Mordo.

Hopefully, we’ll have more Doctor Strange 2 updates sooner than later. Stay tuned.