Doctor Strange 2’s Original Director Talks About Why He Quit Multiverse of Madness

Scott Derrickson, director of Doctor Strange, was slated to return for the sequel that came to be known as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, it was Sam Raimi who ultimately directed the film, as Derrickson left the project. He cited creative differences as the reason for leaving the Marvel project.

It was Derrickson who introduced the Sorcerer Supreme to the MCU, and the first movie received a favourable reception from fans. It seemed like a no-brainer that Derrickson would return. A lot of development of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was already underway, but Derrickson decided to step down from the director role in 2020. He was replaced by Sam Raimi, best known for the Spider-Man trilogy featuring Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man.

Speaking to The Playlist’s The Discourse Podcast (via Screen Rant), Scott Derrickson mentioned it was “real creative differences” that led to the separation between the director and Marvel Studios’ head Kevin Feige. He said that it was “just increasingly obvious that we were pulling against each other.” He mentioned that Feige wanted to make a different movie than the one Derrickson imagined. He said that this difference can create a “monstrosity” and that’s why he had to “bounce.”

Derrickson also added that he is still friends with Kevin Feige and that everything is “really cool” between him and Marvel. He recalled being invited and going to the premiere, his friendship with Sam Raimi, and ended it all by saying that there is “no bad blood” between anyone.