There’s been a lot of talk about Sam Raimi stepping in to direct Doctor Strange 2 after Scott Derrickson left the project and here’s why he’d be perfect.
It hasn’t actually been officially confirmed by Marvel yet which is why I’m rather hesitant to say that he definitely is going to be directing Doctor Strange 2.
However, he did seem to confirm his involvement in the movie whilst promoting his new series for Quibi, 50 States Of Fright.
“I loved Doctor Strange as a kid,” Raimi told journalists on a conference in which he was supposed to be promoting his new Quibi series.
“He was always after Spider-Man and Batman for me. He was probably No. 5 for me for great comic book characters. He was so original.”
Interestingly enough, there’s a Doctor Strange reference in Spider-Man 2, which Raimi directed back in 2004.
Raimi actually referred to that reference during his conference call with journalists.
Is Sam Raimi actually going to direct Doctor Strange 2?
What will happen with Doctor Strange 2? – Credit: Marvel Studios
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The moment in question took place between Daily Bugle newspaper Editor in Chief J. Jonah Jameson (played by J.K. Simmons) and paper employee Ted Hoffman (played by Ted Raimi, Sam’s brother).
They’re brainstorm names for Spider-Man’s new nemesis, and they eventually land on Doctor Octopus.
However, before they decide of that name, Jameson mentions Doctor Strange.
“When we had that moment in the Spider-Man movie, I had no idea we’d be making a Doctor Strange movie,” Raimi said.
“So it was really funny to me also, coincidentally that line was in the first Spider-Man movie … I wish I had the foresight to know I was going to be involved in the project.”
So, it sounds like Raimi’s a big Doctor Strange fan and has been for a while.
Before Derrickson ‘left’ Doctor Strange 2, there were rumours that it was going to be a more horror comic book movie.
That sounded incredible to me, and it made sense given the character and Derrickson’s background in making horror movies.
He made the likes of Sinister, Hellraiser: Inferno, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Deliver Us from Evil.
They’re all pretty decent horror movies (apart from Hellraiser: Inferno), and he obviously understands the genre.
However, it sounds as if he and Marvel didn’t agree of how much of a horror film Doctor Strange 2 should be.
Why is Sam Raimi perfect for the movie?
Sam Raimi looks set to direct Doctor Strange 2 – Credit: Marvel Studios
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One thing that Raimi has proven he can do is make a comic book movie which is horror inflected.
His Spider-Man movies prove that, and it looks like that’s what Marvel wants.
They don’t want to make Doctor Strange 2 a straight up horror movie because then they’d have to deal with having a more mature rating which would affect their box office takings.
I really do believe that Raimi is the right director for the job because he’d be able to deliver both what Marvel and the audience want.
It even seems as though Scott Derrickson likes the idea of being replaced by Sam Raimi.
He tweeted about Raimi director Doctor Strange 2 back in February, saying: “I’ve worked with Sam Raimi.
He continued: “One of the nicest people I’ve known in the film business, and as a director, a true living legend.
“What a great choice to take over Doctor Strange,” he finished.
So, that’s a huge endorsement for Raimi to direct Doctor Strange 2.
Raimi really understands horror and comic book movies
Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead movies are incredible – Credit: New Line Cinema
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Raimi’s background in horror is extensive, but he also has an impressive background in making groundbreaking comic book movies.
I would argue that his Spider-Man movies were the first genuinely good comic book movies ever made.
Before his Spider-Man film came out, comic book movies were a bit like what video game movies are today.
They were ridiculed and pretty much terrible. Some of them were OK (the Blade movies were pretty good).
He’s able to blend the comic book movie and horror movie genres perfectly, and that’s what Doctor Strange needs.
Raimi is also someone who’s used to working with big studios, and I think he’s enough of a name for Marvel to feel comfortable with just letting him do what he wants.
Could Raimi change the MCU?
The 2020s was a great decade for comic book movies – Credit: Marvel Studios
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The MCU is in need of a change in direction following Avengers: Endgame, and Raimi might be the man to bring the MCU well into the cosmic realm.
His movie could also introduce the MCU to new movie genres and get pretty experimental.
I also think he’s a much more experienced director than Scott Derrickson.
His visual style would also really suit a Doctor Strange movie.
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Would you like see Sam Raimi direct Doctor Strange 2?
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