Meet the cast of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as various different versions of the title character in the latest MCU flick – here's who appears alongside him.
This weekend is an exciting one for Marvel fans, with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness now playing in cinemas.
Benedict Cumberbatch is back as Stephen Strange, who has to deal with the ramifications of a multi-verse that has been cracked wide open.
It's been over five years since Doctor Strange starred in his first standalone film, but Marvel is making up for lost time with an array of high-profile appearances from Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo, plus a host of surprising cameos that we won't spoil for you.
Making her Marvel debut is Xochitl Gomez (Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club), who takes on the role of dimension-hopping hero America Chavez – one of the rare LGBTQ+ superheroes in the MCU.
Directed by Sam Raimi, who lifted the lid on the film in his Big RT Interview, the film has received mixed reviews since premiering (including a three-star write-up by RadioTimes.com), and some punchy comments from Everything Everywhere All at Once star Jamie Lee Curtis.
Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, including who they're playing and where you might have seen them before.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Who's in the cast of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Full list of characters
Benedict Cumberbatch plays Doctor Stephen Strange
Who is Doctor Stephen Strange? A somewhat arrogant neurosurgeon who – during the events of 2016's Doctor Strange – suffered a career-ending injury which eventually led to him becoming a Master of the Mystic Arts. In the new film, Cumberbatch plays multiple alternate versions of the character, including Sinister Strange – a corrupted and corroded version of the character; Defender Strange – a seemingly heroic version; a zombie variant that was previously introduced in the animated series What If...?; and Supreme Strange.
What else has Benedict Cumberbatch been in? Cumberbatch is currently one of the most recognisable faces in film and TV – with his best-known roles including the title characters in TV series Sherlock and Patrick Melrose and award-nominated turns in films such as The Imitation Game and The Power of the Dog. Other big-screen credits include Atonement, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Star Trek Into Darkness, 12 Years a Slave, and 1917, in addition to voice and motion-capture roles as Smaug and Sauron in The Hobbit trilogy.
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Karl Mordo
Who is Karl Mordo? A former Master of the Mystic Arts, Mordo started off as Strange's mentor but has now become his nemesis and is hunting other sorcerers. Ejiofor also plays alternate versions of the character.
What else has Chiwetel Ejiofor been in? Ejiofor's most well-known film roles include his turn as Peter in Love Actually and his Oscar-nominated role as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave. Other notable roles include Dirty Pretty Things, The Martian, and The Boy Who Harnesses The Wind – the latter of which was also his directorial debut – while he is currently playing the lead role in Showtime's TV adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Elizabeth Olsen plays Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff
Who is Wanda Maximoff? One of the Avengers, Wanda can harness chaos magic, engage in telepathy and telekinesis, and alter reality. In the new film, Strange seeks her out for help regarding the multiverse, while we also see various alternate versions of the character, including a zombie variant previously introduced in What If...?.
What else has Elizabeth Olsen been in? Olsen has been playing Wanda in the MCU since 2015 – and received particular acclaim for her role in small screen project WandaVision last year. Away from Marvel, notable film roles have included Martha Marcy May Marlene, Godzilla, Ingrid Goes West and Wind River, while she has a lead role in David E. Kelley's upcoming HBO drama Love and Death.
Xochitl Gomez plays America Chavez
Who is America Chavez? A teenager who originates from another universe known as the Utopian Parallel, America received the ability to travel between dimensions by punching open doorways as a child.
What else has Xochitl Gomez been in? This is Gomez's first major big-screen role, but she had a main role as Dawn Schafer on the first season of the Netflix teen drama The Baby-Sitters Club.
Benedict Wong plays Wong
Who is Wong? The Sorcerer Supreme,Wong is a mentor to and friend of Strange, who is tasked with protecting Kamar-Taj's most valuable relics and books. As with other characters, we see various alternate versions of Wong in the film, including Defender Wong.
What else has Benedict Wong been in? Wong had a main role as Errol Spears in Sean Locks's sitcom 15 Storeys High, and other prominent TV roles have included Vincent in Top Boy and Kublai Khan in Marco Polo. On the big screen, he's appeared in films including Sunshine, The Martian, and The Personal History of David Copperfield.
Michael Stuhlbarg plays Dr Nicodemus West
Who is Dr Nicodemus West? A surgeon who was originally a rival to Strange, West saved his life after the near-fatal car crash in the first film and was also asked to take charge of the unsuccessful operation to save The Ancient One.
What else has Michael Stuhlbarg been in? Stuhlbarg's varied screen career has included roles in hit films such as Lincoln, Steve Jobs, Call Me By Your Name, The Shape of Water, and The Post – the last three of which were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in the same year. He is also known for playing the lead role of Larry Gopnik in the Coen brothers film A Serious Man and his turn as Arnold Rothstein in the first four seasons of Boardwalk Empire.
Rachel McAdams plays Dr Christine Palmer
Who is Dr Christine Palmer? Another former colleague – and also one-time lover – of Strange, who is now due to get married after Strange decided to protect the New York Sanctum rather than be with her in the previous film. McAdams also plays alternate versions of the character in the film.
What else has Rachel McAdams been in? McAdams rose to fame with her performance as Regina George in Mean Girls in 2004, and followed it up a year later with a lead role opposite Ryan Gosling in the romantic comedy film The Notebook. Other prominent roles have included The Time Traveler's Wife, Sherlock Holmes, Midnight in Paris, About Time, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, while she received an Oscar nomination for her supporting turn in Best Picture winner Spotlight.
Topo Wresniwiro plays Hamir
Who is Hamir? A Master of the Mystic Arts who was introduced as one of the Ancient One's many students in Doctor Strange and who is missing his left hand.
What else has Topo Wresniwiro been in? Wresniwiro's appearance in Doctor Strange is his most high-profile to date – but he also had a role in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
**SPOILER WARNING**
Sir Patrick Stewart plays Professor Charles Xavier
Who is Professor X? This character will need no introduction to most film fans – although he hasn't appeared in the MCU to date. He is a mutant and an exceptionally powerful telepath, who is the founder and sometimes leader of the X-Men. Here he is the leader of the Illuminati.
What else has Sir Patrick Stewart been in? Stewart is a familiar face to all TV and film fans for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, its subsequent films, and the ongoing series Star Trek: Picard, and as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series – a role he is now reprising. Other big-screen credits include the 1984 version of Dune, Green Room, and The Kid Who Would Be King, while he's also a prolific stage performer – particularly of Shakespeare.
Hayley Atwell plays Captain Carter/Peggy Carter
Who is Captain Carter? A superpowered version of Steve Roger's true love and SHIELD founder Peggy Carter but from an alternate universe where she was experimented on to become a super-soldier. This version of Peggy appeared in the animated series What If...? Here, Carter is a vocal member of the Illuminati.
What else has Hayley Atwell been in? Outside of her role as Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Atwell has had roles in the filmsThe Duchess, the series The Pillars of the Earth, the series Black Mirror, the film Testament of Youth, Christopher Robin, and the film Cinderella.
Anson Mount as Black Bolt/Blackagar Boltagon
Who is Black Bolt? Blackagar Boltagon is the leader of the superpowered species known as the Inhumans and previously appeared in their self-titled series. In an alternate universe depicted in this film, Black Bolt is a member of the Illuminati.
What else has Anson Mount been in? Mount is best known for his roles in the television series Hell on Wheels, Conviction, Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
John Krasinski as Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards
Who is Mister Fantastic? Reed Richards is a scientist with the power to elongate himself and is a member of the superhero team in the Fantastic Four. In this film, an alternate universe version appears portrayed by John Krasinski, a long-time fan-favourite to be cast in the role for the MCU iteration of the character.
What else has John Krasinski been in? Best known for his turn as Jim Halpert in the US version of The Office, Krasinski has since starred in the series Jack Ryan and also directed and starred in the films A Quiet Place and its sequel.
Lashana Lynch as Captain Marvel/Maria Rambeau
Who is Captain Marvel/Maria Rambeau? A variant of Carol Danvers' best friend Maria Rambeau who hails from an alternate universe where she became the powered heroine Captain Marvel. Maria is a member of the Illuminati in this universe.
What else has Lashana Lynch been in? Lynch is also best known for her role as Nomi in the James Bond film No Time To Die. She will next be seen as Miss Honey in the upcoming adaptation of the Matilda musical. Lynch won the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2022.
Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne play Billy and Tommy Maximoff
Who are Billy and Tommy Maximoff? The sons of Wanda Maximoff who she created through magic in the central MCU reality but exist in alternate universes.
What else have Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne been in? Hilliard has appeared in The Haunting of Hill House, Color Out of Space, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Klyne has also appeared in the films The Boy and Skyscraper.
Bruce Campbell plays Pizza Poppa
Who is Pizza Poppa? The vendor of a Pizza restaurant in multiple universes.
What else has Bruce Campbell been in? A regular collaborator with director Sam Raimi, including the Evil Dead series. He also appeared in the films Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, and Bubba Ho-Tep. He also has also appeared in multiple television series.
Charlize Theron plays Clea
Who is Clea? A sorceress who seeks help from Doctor Strange in the first end credits scene. In Marvel Comics, Clea is a major supporting character and lover of Strange.
What else has Charlize Theron been in? The Academy Award-winning actress won for her turn as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster but has also been nominated for turns in North Country and Bombshell. Theron has also starred in numerous films including The Devil's Advocate, Prometheus, the Huntsman films, Mighty Joe Young, Long Shot, Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, The Old Guard, Young Adult and Tully.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness comes to UK cinemas on the 6th May 2022. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
