Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness is losing its director, Scott Derrickson. Variety was first to break the story, saying its sources were citing “creative differences” with Marvel as the cause of Derrickson’s exit from the seat. However, Derrickson will remain as the movie’s executive producer, and there doesn’t seem to be any bad blood present. Marvel has not clarified who will take his directing spot at this time.
Shortly after, the filmmaker took to Twitter to confirm the news.
Marvel and I have mutually agreed to part ways on Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness due to creative differences. I am thankful for our collaboration and will remain on as EP.
— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) January 10, 2020
Derrickson directed the first Doctor Strange film and managed to popularize yet another one of the comic series’ more obscure characters. With the second film, Derrickson went on record stating that he planned to make the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) first truly scary entry with the strange sequel. Seeing as he is now leaving the position, there is no telling if this claim will hold up in the final product.
Despite a lack of an announcement regarding who will take the directing spot, Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness is still said to be on track to make its May 7, 2021 premiere. That said, there isn’t much time left before the movie would have started getting into its early phases, so the schedule could change in the near future if Marvel doesn’t act fast.
This isn’t the first time a Marvel director has left a film over creative differences. Ant-Man, which was eventually found its director in Peyton Reed, was once going to see Edgar Right sitting in the directing chair before he too left for similar reasons.
Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness is still far off from release, so, as usual, Marvel has filled the gap in time with more MCU blockbusters. Black Widow is still on track to come this May, and The Eternals will premiere later this year in November.
