The first draft of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness did not feature the Scarlet Witch as the main threat. Instead, the team introduced Nightmare as the central foe. In that version, Wanda Maximoff acted as a hero who helped Doctor Strange track the dark entity.
Fans first learned about this change when a popular X account shared a screenshot of the early script. The post explained that the film originally began with Wanda on the side of good. The writer Michael Waldron later shifted her role to that of an antagonist, creating the conflict we see on screen.
How Kevin Feige Reshaped the Story
Kevin Feige reviewed the draft and decided to overhaul the plot. He approved the decision to turn Wanda into the villain and to replace Nightmare with a different menace. The producers also explored the ancient god Chthon as a possible enemy. Feige chose to keep Chthon for a future project, perhaps a solo Scarlet Witch film.
Scenes That Never Saw the Light
The original opening scene featured Mordo from Earth 616 trying to kill Wanda. In the script, Wanda decapitated Mordo and presented his head to Doctor Strange later. Director Sam Raimi confirmed that this moment was removed to improve pacing.
Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Wanda, said she was not part of the reshoot sessions because she was filming another series. She noted that the shift in Wanda’s arc happened during the main shoot. Olsen described the change as a challenging but exciting turn for her character.
Other Near Misses in the Draft
Waldron also revealed that an early version had Wanda nearly kill the Wasp. In that scene, the Wasp shrank and flew toward Wanda, who simply clapped her hands and crushed the hero. The final cut replaced that moment with a series of other deaths, including Mr Fantastic, Captain Carter, an alternate Captain Marvel, and Professor X.
These revisions show how Marvel film script revisions can dramatically alter a story. The shift from Nightmare to Wanda as the main antagonist created a more personal conflict and allowed the film to explore the consequences of power.
Where to Watch the Film Now
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently streaming on Disney+. Fans can watch the movie and compare the final version with the early ideas that were discussed during production.
Source: Superhero Hype
