Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is already heavily hinting at the inclusion of Patrick Stewart’s Professor X in its latest trailer. That seems to have set off a chain reaction of wild fan theories, including Tom Cruise as Iron Man and Ryan Reynolds returning as Deadpool.
During the Big Game trailer, a few flying figures were glimpsed swooping down. One, according to some on social media, bears a striking resemblance to Tom Cruise as the comic book character ‘Superior’ Iron Man. Not convinced? Take a look for yourself.
I reckon this is Tom Cruise as a ‘Superior Iron Man’ variant and member of Professor X’s Illuminati that Doctor Strange is being taken to for trial. Notice those are iron man/ultron-esque robots 🤔#DoctorStrange #MultiverseOfMadness #DoctorStrange2 pic.twitter.com/ySa1RHnnYNFebruary 14, 2022
Tom Cruise playing Iron Man has been one of those odd rumor mill whispers that haven’t quite gone away, and the appearance of Ultron bots accompanying a handcuffed Doctor Strange towards the Illuminati group (which could also include Reed Richards) does little to dispel that theory.
It doesn’t end there. In the newly-released Multiverse of Madness poster, a certain Merc with a Mouth has supposedly been spotted in a glass fragment, just above Wong’s eye. This feels a little less conclusive and maybe a trick of the eye, but this is what Marvel has reduced us to at this point. Blame Kevin Feige.
There's also a more likely variant present in The Multiverse of Madness: Captain Marvel's Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) as a Captain Marvel variant.
"All the amazing analysis & study of this poster makes me very happy," Disney’s president of marketing, Asad Ayaz, said on Twitter.
yeah…maria rambeau is our variant captain marvel for sure pic.twitter.com/EaYHUTRWmvFebruary 14, 2022
Deadpool shushing in the Doctor Strange Multiverse of Madness poster? #DoctorStrange pic.twitter.com/JqYeawKVokFebruary 14, 2022
Deadpool 3 is already in the works, with Kevin Feige confirming it’s set to be R-Rated. It would also be very on-brand for Ryan Reynolds’ masked mercenary to debut in low-key fashion in a poster for another movie. So watch this space.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set for cinemas on May 6. For more from the MCU’s grand plans, Tom Cruise or otherwise, be sure to check out our guide to Marvel Phase 4.
