DOCTOR STRANGE saw the Sorcerer Supreme (Benedict Cumberbatch) making the big leap from page to the big screen back in 2016 to impressive results, and now he has a major role to play in the upcoming AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. We will no doubt see him in his own movie again, even though we have very few details as to what his adventure will entail. We’ve gotten a bit more info now, as the movie’s screenwriter has revealed who they intend to be the main villain.
Writer C. Robert Cargill (who co-wrote along with Scott Derrickson and Jon Spaihts), was on hand for a Q & A after a recent screening of the first movie in Austin, Texas. The writer revealed that the villain Nightmare will be the main baddie and that he may be in cahoots with Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
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Marvel movies work in threes. They also work outside of their threes. Some of the better Marvel films have more than one villain in them. Me and Scott have not laid the groundwork for it but what I can say is that I have a feeling that whatever Nightmare is involved with, Baron Mordo, being somebody who considers himself the defender of natural law will have something to do with it.
Nightmare is a long-standing villain for Doctor Strange, first making an appearance in Strange Tales #110 in 1963. The character is the ruler of the Dream Dimension and the Nightmare Realm (get it!?), the place people go when they fall asleep. He has the ability to infect people’s dreams and extract psychic energy, making him a worthy foe for anyone who, well, needs to sleep.
This is not the first time the character has been mentioned in the news, with Derrickson saying back in October 2016 that he was keen on using the character and even thought of using him for the first movie. However, they felt bringing him in so early would make for too complex a storyline, as the movie was all about introducing the other dimensions, but not exactly exploring them.
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It sounds like things may still be a bit early on the development front, but it seems Derrickson and Cargill have a pretty clear vision on where they want to take the character in his next solo outing. Pitting Strange against such a psychological force would be a more complex, and certainly creepier, way to challenge the character. He seems to go through a lot in INFINITY WAR, as we've seen in the trailer, so chances are he will have plenty of nightmares to face in his sequel. And, as a bonus, he will be ready to fight Freddy Krueger should the scenario arise.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR arrives April 27.