Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness boasts a massive ensemble cast. It somehow manages to do justice to the core characters of the first Doctor Strange film while introducing and featuring heroes from every corner of Marvel Comics canon. The result can feel overwhelming at times, but as is the case in all MCU films, charismatic performances ground the film in an accessible reality.
Multiverse of Madness boasts some of the most exciting – and shocking – casting choices in the MCU thus far. There’s surprisingly effective fan service as well as universe-best performances from some of the franchise’s strongest performers. It serves as undeniable proof that the magic of Marvel’s casting department is alive and flourishing.
10 Sir Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier (Professor X)
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While Multiverse of Madness doesn’t revolutionize or otherwise reinvent the character, what’s left to do with one of the most iconic characters in the superhero genre? What is slightly surprising is how after over two decades, Patrick Stewart still gives his most famous character everything he has in every capacity.
Whether he’s delivering unwieldy exposition with ease, engaging in a telepathic battle, or getting his neck snapped, Stewart is as committed as he’s ever been. He’s every bit as warm and cryptic and justifies bringing this character back one more time.
9 Michael Stuhlbarg as Nicodemus West
Michael Stuhlbarg is simply one of those rare, selfless actors who disappears into a role no matter the size or context. Much in the same way Alfre Woodard did in Captain America: Civil War, Stuhlbarg delivers a devastating performance in only one scene.
He’s tasked with introducing (and in many ways carrying) one of the film’s central ideas: there was a human cost to Strange’s moral calculation in Avengers: Infinity War. Only an actor of Stuhlbarg’s caliber could do this, deftly pulling off an impossible comedic/tragic one-two punch of “I lost my two cats… and my brother.”
8 Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambeau (Captain Marvel)
When an orange, flying figure was first seen in a trailer for Multiverse of Madness, a large portion of the fan base guessed it might be a variant of Tony Stark (hopefully played by Tom Cruise). However, what they got is surely something better.
Lashana Lynch doesn’t just accept the mantle of Captain Marvel, she absolutely owns it. Rather than the cool, playfully snide persona of Carol Danvers, this Captain Marvel exudes a powerful sense of authority that was both captivating and striking. Hopefully, fans will see more of Lynch as Maria Rambeau, either in What If? or The Marvels.
7 Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Karl Mordo
Mordo gets a raw deal in this film; the audience is told his 838 version is a kinder Mordo, while the real 616 version has been fighting Doctor Strange off-screen for years. However, it’s eventually revealed 838 Mordo is also evil, and it feels like the more interesting Mordo is elsewhere. However, what makes it work is Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Even when Mordo turns toward the same path as his 616 counterpart, Ejiofor gives it an entirely different flavor. Rather than the hurt, broken Mordo on a righteous quest audiences saw at the end of the first film, this Mordo is petty, comfortable in his power, but still threatened by his inferiority complex towards Strange. It’s an extraordinary way to reframe this character and preserves the true villainy Mordo is capable of for future appearances in the main universe.
6 John Krasinski as Reed Richardson (Mister Fantastic)
In a bizarre confirmation that comic book fans can will just about anything to happen, audiences screamed in delight as John Krasinski phased into the frame as Reed Richards, marking the character’s first on-screen appearance in seven years.
While it seemed like mere fan service at first, it didn’t take long for Krasinski to win over theaters across the world. He brought a sense of stability and weary kindness to the character that was endearing, making it rather unsurprising that fans want Marvel to announce him as the permanent Reed Richards as soon as possible.
5 Bruce Campbell as Pizza Papa
In a Sam Raimi movie, it was never a question of “if” Bruce Campbell would show up, but “when” and “is he finally going to be Mysterio?” While he doesn’t don the spherical dome of the Spider-Man villain in this film, there’s certainly no shortage of balls. Campbell gleefully portrays an ornery street vendor selling “Pizza Balls” who’s cursed by Strange to beat himself up for three weeks.
Aside from the hilarious callback to the Evil Dead, and the charming (yet surprisingly polarizing) post-credits scene, Campbell nails the tone and crushes absurd dialogue that feels ripped straight from Rick and Morty (of which screenwriter Michael Waldron is an alum). It’s a truly unique Bruce Campbell performance, and well worth the price of admission for fans of him or Raimi.
4 Benedict Wong as Wong
Arguably the most underrated cast member, Benedict Wong is at the top of his superhero game in this film. It was a risky move to separate Wong and Wanda from Strange for a sizable stretch of the film, and while it worked to varying degrees of success, it was absolutely worth giving Wong the spotlight as the protagonist of this plotline.
Wong used each and every moment to show how his character struggles with his new responsibilities as Sorcerer Supreme. In a film as big as this, this made him a much-needed grounding force for audiences.
3 Anson Mount as Blackagar Boltagon (Black Bolt)
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Anson Mount’s appearance in the film was easily the most shocking, for more reasons than one. For starters, the only other time he – or any other actor – played this character in live-action was in the television series Inhumans. The series drew strong negative reactions from critics and fans alike. It was canceled after one season with no plans to adapt the Inhumans in the future.
Yet, what’s even more interesting is how Mount portrayed a drastically different Black Bolt here; the stoicism remained but was enriched by a softer, more vulnerable balance between regality and humanity. Even in his gruesome demise, Mount sells the sheer terror of that moment impeccably. Through this remarkably dynamic performance, Mount not only reminds audiences of his talent but makes a strong case for his inclusion in future films.
2 Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Stephen Strange
With every appearance, audiences are reminded of how formidable and graceful a presence Benedict Cumberbatch is in the MCU. In a universe formerly focused on the brotherhood of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, as well as the arcs of the core six Avengers, Cumberbatch often felt like an iron-clad supporting character.
Here, in this audacious yet committed outing, it feels as though Cumberbatch has been set loose. He reveals himself as not only a vital aspect of the current MCU framework but a solid contender for carrying this universe through its next saga. It’s also welcome proof that, at the heart of this ever sprawling interconnected narrative, strong leading performances remain core to the DNA of the MCU.
1 Elizabeth Olson as Wanda Maximoff (The Scarlet Witch)
Wanda Maximoff is something of a rare character in the MCU. While each hero grows and changes over the course of their films, few do so as drastically as she does. In each entry, it feels as though her story has taken what immediately came before it and run a mile, creating plot threads that – on paper – should feel totally disjointed if it wasn’t for Elizabeth Olson.
The way she carefully and coherently tracks and portrays Maximoff’s complex arc with such defiant empathy – even through the darkest moments – is the key to this film. With her raw, earnest depiction of grief, she earns moments of absolute chaos and violence. The brilliance of the MCU still lies within its casting and its trust in its actors to carry the most complicated stories with skill, reverence, and heart.
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