Marvel fans have come a long way since Tony Stark and Steve Rogers first led Earth’s Mightiest Heroes into battle, which continues throughout the Infinity Saga.
Now, the franchise has progressed far enough to include an Illuminati version of Marvel Comics alongside Doctor Strange and Wanda Maximoff in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
But when Wanda defeats the Illuminati on the spot and also kills brutally, there are memories of seeing a different Captain America for the first time. Plus, according to the Doctor Strange 2 crew, one of those moments was even more painful than expected for the main villain.
Memories That Made Steve Rogers Influence Wanda
According to thedirect.com, the audio commentary on the digital release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness reveals a touching moment for Wanda Maximoff during her fight with the Illuminati.
Palmer continues to watch the fight between Captain Marvel and Wanda, teasing how exciting the battle is because both of their powers originally came from interactions with the Infinity Stones. Even so, with the Scarlet Witch being so powerful, Palmer notes how she “sucked away [Captain Marvel’s] power” long enough to hold her back and bring her out:
Quotes based on Audio Commentary
Palmer: “That was Hayley and Lashana who came up with that cool look between them in the moment. You know, the idea being they were well-oiled machines.”
Raimi: “That’s right, we challenged them to come up with a badass look, and they each did. It was really cool.”
Waldron: “I have to imagine that moment hurts Wanda. She was so close to Steve. She would have known Peggy, known of her.”
Palmer: “I think both of these characters, this is, you know, Monica Rambeau’s mother, who she knew from WandaVision…”
Even though Wanda turned out to be a more ruthless villain than many fans thought, her time in Doctor Strange 2 brought back some meaningful moments from the days she fought the Avengers.
In particular, Wanda’s relationship with Steve Rogers is one that developed over time after they first met in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Steve helped Wanda evolve into a hero after leaving Ultron, and she was there when Earth-616’s Peggy Carter died in Captain America: Civil War, which must have hit her way back when she split Captain Carter in half during their battle.
The same emotions surfaced during the tussle with Captain Marvel, tying Doctor Strange 2 even closer to WandaVision thanks to Monica Rambeau’s reintroduction at the event. Heroine Teyonah Parris stood by Wanda after all that had happened at Westview, and while the relationship wasn’t as long as that relationship with Steve, it was still something that hit Wanda hard as she fought for her kids.
While Steve Rogers may have retired and shed his shield after Avengers: Endgame, his presence in the MCU and the future remains as big as anyone else’s. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now streaming on Disney+.